Bugle Mountain
- 7.2 mi
- round trip
- 2,350 ft
- climb
- 8,171 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Bugle Mountain open right now?
No closures listed
The Forest Service lists no closures for Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.
As of · Source: USFS · Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Bugle Mountain is a hard hike in Montana's Scapegoat Wilderness, within the Lincoln Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, on land managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 7.2 miles round trip. It climbs about 2,350 feet one way, rising from a low point near 5,800 feet to a high point near 8,200 feet. Hikers make that full gain on the way up and give it back on the descent. According to Forest Service trail records, the tread is a natural surface, horses are allowed and bikes are not. Twin Lakes is just 0.2 miles away, and Mineral Creek is about a mile off. The East Fork North Fork Blackfoot River offers canoeing about 1.4 miles away. Big Nelson Campground Complex, about 9 miles away, is a nearby place to camp.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Twin Lakes
Next door
4.57-mile out-and-back trail at Twin Lakes, Montana with 226 ft elevation gain.
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Mineral Creek
~2 min drive
13.65-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,525 ft of elevation gain.
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MEADOW CREEK CUTOFF TRAIL
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2.99-mile loop trail in Montana with 221 ft elevation gain and loss.
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Middle Fork Trail
~9 min drive
5.54-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 646 ft gain.
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Mainline Trail
~4 min drive
14.73-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 426 ft of elevation gain.
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Mineral Creek Cutoff
~4 min drive
4.2-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 480 ft gain/loss.
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Copper Camp
~11 min drive
3.12-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 964 ft elevation gain.
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Upper Landers Trail
~6 min drive
16.21-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 771 ft elevation gain.
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East Fork (Of North Fork)
~8 min drive
1.80-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 213 ft gain.
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Mcdonnell Meadows
~11 min drive
3.40-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 939 ft gain.
Route details
- Distance
- 7.2 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 2,350 ft
- Summit
- 8,171 ft
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Time
- About 3.5 hours
Season
Season: Year-round.
Questions about this route
How long is the Bugle Mountain on Bugle Mountain?
About 7.2 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Bugle Mountain?
About 2,350 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Bugle Mountain?
It is rated hard.
How long does the Bugle Mountain take?
About 3.5 hours round trip.
When is the best time for the Bugle Mountain?
Year-round.
Conditions and forecast on Bugle Mountain
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
