Montana · Hiking · Bob Marshall Wilderness

Ayres

8.2 mi
round trip
702 ft
climb
5,690 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Ayres open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Flathead National Forest.

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

Ayres is a hard hike in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, part of the Spotted Bear Ranger District of Flathead National Forest in northwest Montana. The trail is an out-and-back of about 8 miles, with a total elevation gain of 702 feet from a low point of about 4,957 feet to a high of about 5,690 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surface, not accessible, and allows horses but not bikes. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Gibson Dam show July highs around 79°F with lows near 45°F, and the station sits about 1,100 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The station also records about 7 wet days a month in July and August, the driest stretch of the year. Several other hikes start within a couple of miles, including Foolhen Creek and Sentinel Mtn. at about 1.3 miles and East Side South Fork at about 1.4 miles. Paddlers can find Danaher Creek about 2.6 miles away.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Ayres

    Best months: May–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

      36° / 12°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      36° / 12°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 18°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 25°

      7 wet

    5. May

      59° / 33°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 39°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 45°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 43°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 36°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 29°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 20°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 13°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gibson Dam, MT, 19.9 mi away at 4,590 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.