You can cover this route in two days, but to really enjoy the scenery on this high-altitude hike, allow three. Although the trail is remote and primitive, it is still well-maintained and easy to follow. There is a fair chance of spotting elk or deer, and a great variety of wildflowers will greet you in summer, particularly in mid-July. Snow may block this trail until early July. The main attraction is the views.
Mosquitoes can be a problem early in the season, but they seem less severe than in many areas.
Drinking water and shelter from the wind can often be found by dropping over the ridge to the east into the high meadows. From Columbia Mountain, take Trail 7 as it follows the top of the ridge, with views in all directions, including Hungry Horse Reservoir, the peaks of Glacier National Park, and the Flathead Valley. There are several places to camp along the trail, including Doris, Jenny, and Lamoose Lakes. Although there is some fishing in Strawberry and Lamoose Lakes, this hike is not known for its fishing. Black bears and grizzlies inhabit this area, so there is a chance of a confrontation.