I decided to do a winter RFC backpacking trip and chose this trail. I had never been on this trail before so Amber and I did a scouting mission. We wanted to see where the water and campsites are so we could plan accordingly. It turns out there is water everywhere on this trial. It was December, a month not known for water on trails, but there was no lack of water here. Campsites were the same. This trail is used so frequently that people have made campsites all along the trail, most of which are flat and next to water, perfect.

The trail actualy consists of three trails that form a triangle. We started on the Little Missouri trail, connected to the Athens-Big Fork and then to Viles Branch. After Viles Branch we connected back onto the Little Missouri Trail to get us back to the truck. The trail is well blazed and maintained. There was only one place that we got misguided, a place where they are changing the location of the trail. But, it wasn't a big deal. Amber and I hiked 12 miles the first day and 15 miles the second day. It was a bit of a hussle concidering the sun set around 5:00, but it wasn't bad.

The trail goes through Albert Pike Recreation Area. It's kind of solomn spot, 20 people died there in a flash flood back in 2010. As you're hiking the Little Missouri Trail north to Albert Pike, there is still debris and signs of the flood. It gives pause.