Montana · Hiking

Archibald Loop

8.2 mi
loop
907 ft
climb
4,722 ft
high point
Loop
route
May, Jul–Sep
best months

Is ARCHIBALD LOOP open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Lolo National Forest.

  • East Fork Big Creek Road & Trail Closure- Superior Ranger District

    Agency alert covering Lolo National Forest · Order 26-003- · USFS · Lolo National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Lolo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

The Archibald Loop is a moderate, 8.2-mile loop in the Seeley Lake Ranger District of Montana's Lolo National Forest. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail's starting point sits at about 4,130 feet, with a high of about 4,722 feet and a total elevation gain of 907 feet for the loop. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July and August highs reach about 83°F with lows in the low 40s, based on averages from a nearby weather station at Seeley Lake. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the loop run slightly cooler. The trip takes about three hours. The route is a loop, so you return to the start, and the steepest stretch comes at about 6.9 miles in, with a grade of about 14%. Mountain bikers will find the Gus and W Bypass from Arch-Eglwatch trails within about half a mile, and River Point Campground Complex is about 0.9 miles away. The Clearwater River, a paddling route, lies about 8.4 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May, Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit ARCHIBALD LOOP

    Best months: May and July–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      32° / 12°

      15 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 13°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      45° / 20°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 27°

      11 wet

    5. May

      65° / 34°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 41°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 44°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 43°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 36°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 29°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      40° / 21°

      14 wet

    12. Dec

      31° / 13°

      16 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Seeley Lake Rs, MT, 2.4 mi away at 4,100 ft. The station sits about 600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.