Montana Highway 38, The Skalkaho, Opens

If you're senses for Montana summer adventure are kicking into overdrive, this is a good starter kit.

The Skalkaho Highway is now open for the season. For those unfamiliar, this is a 45-mile stretch of road, sometimes paved, sometimes dirt, that runs between the Bitterroot and Philipsburg Valleys. You are face to face with the Sapphire Mountains, get tempted to camp soon in the West Fork Rock Creek area and of course get practically right underneath spectacular Skalkaho Falls, as my stepson Gabe and his girlfriend Jenny did in this photo. Picture courtesy of Jennifer Bedard.

The road is accessible from either end, Highway 1 just south of Philipsburg or Highway 93 just south of Hamilton. It's not the easiest drive and not necessarily a ton of fun for the driver, because eyes on the road and paying very close attention to your driving are critical, but definitely worth putting on the "must-do" list this summer.  DB