Montana · Hiking

Big Spring Creek

7.3 mi
round trip
1,166 ft
climb
8,008 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Big Spring Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name Big Spring Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (16 listed).

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

Big Spring Creek is a hard hike of about 7.3 miles on a natural-surface trail in the Hebgen Lake Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The trail is an out-and-back, with the low point at 6,843 feet and the high at 8,008 feet, and the one-way climb totals 1,166 feet. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station at Hebgen Dam run to a high of 79°F and a low of 45°F, and the station sits well below the trail, so temperatures up high run cooler. September is a drier option, with typical highs around 68°F and about six wet days. Sage Creek lies about a mile away, and the Slide Creek hike and the Big Sky Grit climbing area are both about 1.6 miles off. Wapiti Campground is the nearest town, about 24 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Big Spring Creek

    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

      23° / 3°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      28° / 5°

      10 wet

    3. Mar

      38° / 14°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      47° / 23°

      10 wet

    5. May

      58° / 32°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      68° / 39°

      11 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 45°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 43°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 37°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 28°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      34° / 18°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      23° / 6°

      13 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Hebgen Dam, MT, 13.8 mi away at 6,489 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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.

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