🏕️ Trespass–Sweetgrass–Cottonwood Backpacking Loop

Classic multi-day loop deep in the Crazy Mountains, linking Trespass Creek, Sweet Grass Creek, and the Cottonwood Lake drainage past waterfalls, alpine lakes, and Grasshopper Glacier.

Notes

• ~23 mi loop. Elevation gain is significant across multiple passes (~5,000 ft, approximate — verify against a GPS track).
• Includes a short off-trail / route-finding section between Trespass and Sweetgrass — comfort with map + terrain required.
• Doable as a fast 1-day push or a mellow 3-night trip, camping at a different lake each night (Campfire Lake, Cottonwood Lake).
• Start at the Cottonwood Lake / Trespass Creek trailhead (~1.5–2 hr from Bozeman via Big Timber/Melville). ⚠️ The Crazies have ongoing public-access/easement disputes — confirm the trailhead and route are legally open before going.
• Grizzly country. Beta: Trespass–Sweetgrass–Cottonwood Loop