Bad Canyon
- 10.0 mi
- round trip
- 1,613 ft
- climb
- 6,409 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Bad Canyon open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Beartooth Ranger District. It doesn't name Bad Canyon, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).
Krueger Pond Wild Horse and Burro Gather Closure Area
Agency closure covering Beartooth Ranger District · Order 01-11-82-27-01 · USFS · Beartooth Ranger District
NFSR #1700 South Plateau Road Closure
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Pine Grove Campground Closure
Agency closure covering Beartooth Ranger District · Order 01-11-82-26-04 · USFS · Beartooth Ranger District
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Summer Interim Travel Order and Map and Order # 01-11-00-26-02
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-00-26-02 · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Winter Interim Travel Order and Map Order Number: #01-11-00-26-01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Beartooth Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Bad Canyon is a hard hike of about 10 miles in the Beartooth Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. It's an out-and-back route with a total elevation gain of about 1,613 feet, rising from a low point of about 5,423 feet to a high of about 6,409 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mystic Lake, at a similar elevation, run to highs around 75°F in July and 74°F in August, with lows near 50°F. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes. The trailhead parking is labeled "BAD CANYON." Several other destinations sit within a few miles. Telegraph Creek and Dead Indian are hikes about 3.5 miles away, Pass Creek is about 3.8 miles away, and Meyers Creek Cabin is about 4.3 miles away.
- Telegraph CreekHiking3.5 mi
- Dead IndianHiking3.6 mi
- Pass CreekHiking3.8 mi
- Meyers Creek CabinCamping4.3 mi
- Castle CreekHiking4.7 mi
- Initial Creek CampgroundCamping7.2 mi
- Deer Creek Cabin (mt)Camping7.9 mi
Woodbine CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain9.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Rabbit Gulch Trailhead SpurHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: Jstuby at en.wikipedia, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- Initial CreekHiking · ~10 min drivePhoto: Jstuby at en.wikipedia, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
Stillwater RiverHiking · ~17 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- Castle CreekHiking · ~8 min drive
Woodbine FallsHiking · ~16 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- Telegraph CreekHiking · ~6 min drive
Green MountainHiking · ~28 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- Falls CreekHiking · ~30 min drive
- Gorge BypassHiking · ~17 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- LodgepoleHiking · ~10 min drive
Best time to visit Bad Canyon
Best months: 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.
Jan
34° / 18°
8 wet
Feb
34° / 17°
9 wet
Mar
41° / 22°
11 wet
Apr
48° / 27°
12 wet
May
57° / 35°
14 wet
Jun
66° / 43°
14 wet
Jul
75° / 50°
12 wet
Aug
74° / 50°
11 wet
Sep
65° / 42°
10 wet
Oct
52° / 32°
10 wet
Nov
40° / 24°
9 wet
Dec
33° / 18°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mystic Lake, MT, 18.2 mi away at 6,544 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
