Big River
- 41.4 mi
- round trip
- 1,004 ft
- climb
- 4,941 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Big River open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Flathead National Forest.
Camp Creek Fire Updated Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
FK&L Area Closed to Public Access Starting July 22, 2026
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Trail 800 Tally-Ashely Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Ryan Creek Occupancy and Use Order
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 1-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Logan Creek Hoke Creek Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Flathead National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Big River is a long, hard hike in Montana's Great Bear Wilderness, within the Hungry Horse Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service, and the route runs about 41 miles out and back, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,004 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and accessible only to hikers and horses, not to bikes or those using wheelchairs. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at E Glacier run to highs around 74°F in July and August, while winter highs sit near 30°F with lows around 13°F. Several trails start close by. Edna Creek is about 0.1 mile away, and Logan-Dirtyface and Java Mtn. are within a mile and a half. Devil Creek Campground, about 4.7 miles off, is the closest place to camp.
Local outfitters
- North American RV Park & Yurt Village27 mi away
- Rocky Mountain Outfitter35 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Edna CreekHiking0.1 mi
- Logan-DirtyfaceHiking0.6 mi
Java Mtn.HikingPhoto: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1.1 mi- Spruce CrossingHiking1.6 mi
- Java CreekHikingPhoto: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)1.6 mi
Devil Creek CampgroundCampingPhoto: Recreation.gov (RIDB) / public domain4.7 mi- Bear CreekCanoeing5.8 mi
- Zips Place CabinCamping7.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Java Mtn.Hiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
- Java CreekHiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: Loco Steve, CC BY 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
Castle LakeHiking · ~15 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- Logan-DirtyfaceHiking · ~1 min drive
South BoundaryHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: GlacierNPS, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
ScalplockHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Autumn CreekHiking · ~19 min drivePhoto: w_lemay, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Edna Creek TrailHiking · ~3 min drive
- Ole CreekHiking · ~7 min drivePhoto: GlacierNPS, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Elk MountainHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: JimsFlicker, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit Big River
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.
Jan
30° / 13°
Feb
30° / 13°
Mar
37° / 19°
Apr
46° / 27°
May
56° / 34°
Jun
64° / 41°
Jul
74° / 46°
Aug
74° / 44°
Sep
63° / 38°
Oct
50° / 29°
Nov
36° / 22°
Dec
29° / 15°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at E Glacier, MT, 21.7 mi away at 4,806 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
