Purple Hands
What defines an idyllic Montana summer? Well, there are the usual images that come to mind — fly-fishing lines dancing across rivers wild, sleek horses galloping through wildflower filled meadows, towering craggy peaks bathing in the sun’s glow, and… purple-stained fingers rubbing fruit juice off the chin? Yes, that’s right - it’s huckleberry season in northwest Montana, and that means purple hands, teeth, and t-shirts donned by hikers with full bellies, carrying jugs of shiny, plump hucks.
Purple hands are the sign of a good day! PHOTO: Discover Kalispell
Montana's Unofficial Fruit
Many visitors are surprised to see so many roadside stands, menu items, and ice cream parlors with the word Huckleberry front and center. Some have never even heard of huckleberries, except perhaps in the name of Mark Twain’s adventurous character, Huckleberry Finn. But to many Montanans, huckleberries are a staple of summertime, so much so that the summer is often defined by before and after the hucks are out. Huckleberries are popping up at most elevations by the end of July through August and into September, from deep in the Bitterroot Mountains all the way up to Glacier National Park and beyond. Since huckleberries grow wild in the woods and are nearly impossible to cultivate, they are a precious commodity. Native Americans first collected the fruit to use for food, drying them to store for the winter, as well as for medicine. Both sweet and tart, huckleberries adorn menus all year long today, but it is during the summer months that they make their highly anticipated appearances at farmer’s markets and highway pop-up stands.
The Huckleberry Patch in Hungry Horse, MT has all things huck! PHOTO: Montana Office of Tourism
So What is a Huckleberry, Anyway?
Huckleberries grow on small bushes in regions of the northwestern United States and western Canada, from creek bottoms to the sub-alpine mountainous slopes, and ripen first at lower elevations. The fruit is similar in appearance to a blueberry but larger and darker in color and are an entirely different fruit, although still rich in antioxidants. High in sugar, huckleberries are a tasty treat and are a large part of Montana cuisine, from toppings on desserts to glazes on steaks and everything in between. Bears love them, too! Be sure to familiarize yourself with the plant before going picking, as look-alike berries can be poisonous, and avoid picking in early mornings and evenings when the bears are out snacking. That being said, it is always wise to carry bear spray while out huckleberry picking.
There's nothing like a homemade huckleberry bear claw. Hint- the Polebridge Mercantile really knows how to make 'em! PHOTO: Glacier National Park
Lucky are We!
How fortunate we are to be able to enjoy Montana’s wide-open spaces, mountains and rivers, and sheer natural beauty… with some delicious, juicy, fresh, native fruit in our mouths. Find these tasty berries just down the road at the nearest community market or roadside stand, in a sweet or savory gourmet dish, or on the trail and straight off the bush!
FEATURED PHOTO: Glacier National Park
.webp)