Montana · Hiking

Big Spar

6.3 mi
round trip
284 ft
climb
3,499 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Big Spar open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Three Rivers Ranger District. It doesn't name Big Spar, so check the source for the area it covers (2 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Three Rivers Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Big Spar is a 6.3-mile out-and-back hike in Montana's Kootenai National Forest, within the Three Rivers Ranger District. The trail climbs from a low point of 3,290 feet to a high point of 3,499 feet, with a total elevation gain of 284 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is accessible, natural-surface, and open for biking, making it a practical option for a range of users. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Heron, about 11 miles away, show July and August highs around 82°F with lows in the mid-40s and fewer wet days than the rest of the year. That station sits roughly 1,260 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on Big Spar run cooler. The trail opens from May 1 through November 30, and the Spar Peak trailhead, numbered 324, is the parking point. Spar Peak is just 0.7 miles away, and Little Spar Lake and Mount Vernon are within about 2 miles. For camping, Spar Lake Campground is 1.9 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Big Spar

    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.

    1. Jan

      33° / 23°

      17 wet · 12 snow

    2. Feb

      37° / 23°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      47° / 27°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    4. Apr

      57° / 31°

      13 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      67° / 39°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 45°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 47°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 46°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 40°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 34°

      13 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      40° / 29°

      16 wet · 6 snow

    12. Dec

      32° / 23°

      18 wet · 12 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Heron 2 Nw, MT, 11.4 mi away at 2,240 ft. The station sits about 1,300 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.