Bear Gulch
- 6.7 mi
- round trip
- 1,280 ft
- climb
- 5,881 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Bear Gulch is a hard hike of about 6.7 miles on a natural-surface trail in Lewis & Clark National Forest in southwest Montana. The route is out and back, with a high point of 5,881 feet and an elevation gain of 1,280 feet from a low of 3,895 feet. Summer and early fall are the most comfortable times to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Millegan put July and August highs around 80°F with lows in the mid-40s, and September highs near 69°F. That station sits about 900 feet lower than the high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. The trail is open year-round and allows horses and bikes, and it is not an accessible trail. Smith River is about 2 miles away, and Cow Coulee, Double Gulch and Temple Gulch lie within 4 miles.
Local outfitters
- MTBCity48 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Smith RiverHiking2 mi
- Cow CouleeHiking3.2 mi
- Double GulchHiking3.7 mi
- Temple GulchHiking3.9 mi
- Parker RidgeHiking4.2 mi
- Old BaldyHiking4.8 mi
- Strawberry RidgeHiking5.2 mi
- Monument Peak LookoutCamping9.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Grouse Ridge DivideHiking · ~40 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Double GulchHiking · ~6 min drive
- Parker RidgeHiking · ~7 min drive
- Figure 8 Loop NRTHiking · ~18 min drive
- Cow CouleeHiking · ~5 min drive
- S FK DEEP CREEKHiking · ~14 min drive
- Tenderfoot Falls OverlookHiking · ~14 min drive
- Old BaldyHiking · ~8 min drive
- Deep Creek RidgeHiking · ~14 min drive
- MONUMENT RIDGEHiking · ~16 min drive
Best time to visit Bear Gulch
Best months: June–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
33° / 11°
8 wet
Feb
35° / 12°
7 wet
Mar
44° / 20°
9 wet
Apr
52° / 26°
11 wet
May
61° / 34°
13 wet
Jun
70° / 41°
12 wet
Jul
80° / 46°
9 wet
Aug
80° / 45°
7 wet
Sep
69° / 37°
6 wet
Oct
54° / 28°
7 wet
Nov
41° / 18°
7 wet
Dec
32° / 11°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Millegan 14 Se, MT, 12.3 mi away at 4,970 ft. The station sits about 900 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.
