Little Belts: Deer Point and Coyote peaks

Our long, grassy approach to Coyote Peak 

On Coyote peak looking toward Yogo and Baldy peaks

Annie Taylor found a tree with rocks in its branches and added some 

Near the trailhead a thunderhead was developing

I should know better by now.
During the summer it is tough to get me into the Little Belt Mountains with the Rocky Mountain Front and Continental Divide Trail country just as close with more dramatic scenery.
But when I am lured to the Little Belts I come away thinking that it is an amazing place full of wild-country adventures.
Such was the case on this week's Wayne's Wednesday Walks hike.
Wayne Phillips designed a 6.6 miles roundtrip hike that covered two peaks (Deer Point --- elevation: 8,150 feet, and Coyote Peak, elevaton: 7,990 feet)  and about 1,000 feet of gain and loss along lonely Trail No. 441.
This trailhead is reachable from a number of ways, but the easiest is from the Lone Grave turnoff at U.S. 89 (across from the Silvercrest winter sports recreation area) and driving up a pretty good dirt road (Road #3328) for about 5 miles as if you are going to the Big Baldy turnoff (Road #258 junction).  Instead of going to Big Baldy to the north, go south for a couple of miles.  The trailhead is not far past the better marked Hell Creek trailhead.
We started on what appears to be a trail that the Forest Service wants to discontinue because it has cut trees across most of the way.
A better trailhead (for the same destination) follows a good two track to a marked trailhead and the trail is lower, but parallels the old trail.  Both trails eventually come together below Deer Point.
These trails have been closed to motorcycles and are quiet and shaded.  There is a peace to hiking along them.
Both peaks break out into the open and offer grand views of Big Baldy and Yogo peaks and the vast Middle Fork of the Judith Wilderness Study Area to the east and below.  Deer Point has a rocky top, Coyote Peak is more scenic, reached through a large park of grass and wildflowers.  The long Kelly Mountain ridgeline comes into view from Coyote).
Although temperatures climbed into the mid-90s in Great Falls this day, we were at a relatively cool and comfortable 73 degrees, even out in the open.

Our route from Deer Point to Coyote peaks in the Little Belts