Cataract Creek
- 16.1 mi
- round trip
- 4,040 ft
- climb
- 6,466 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Cataract Creek open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Kootenai National Forest. It doesn't name Cataract Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.
Kootenai Flood Event & Inaccessible Areas
Agency closure covering Kootenai National Forest · USFS · Kootenai National Forest
Updated Skillet Fire Area, Road, Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Kootenai National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Kootenai National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Kootenai National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Cataract Creek is a hard out-and-back hike in the Cabinet Ranger District of Montana's Kootenai National Forest. The trail runs about 16 miles and climbs roughly 4,000 feet from a low point of 2,681 feet to a high point of 6,466 feet. It is a Forest Service trail, and the trailhead is listed as Cataract Creek TH 847. Bikes and horses are allowed on the natural-surface route. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July and August highs around 70°F with only about six wet days a month, while winter highs sit in the upper 20s. The trail is open from June 1 through October 31. Willow Creek Campground, about 7 miles away, is the closest place to camp. West Fork Cataract and Elk Mountain are both hikes within a few miles, and the Vermilion River, a canoeing route about 3.4 miles off, is the nearest paddling option.
Local outfitters
- CDA River RV46 mi away
- Kootenai River Campground49 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jul–Sep
Best time to visit Cataract Creek
Best months: July–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
28° / 19°
19 wet
Feb
28° / 19°
17 wet
Mar
34° / 22°
19 wet
Apr
40° / 27°
17 wet
May
50° / 36°
15 wet
Jun
58° / 42°
13 wet
Jul
70° / 52°
6 wet
Aug
69° / 51°
6 wet
Sep
59° / 44°
8 wet
Oct
44° / 32°
13 wet
Nov
32° / 23°
17 wet
Dec
27° / 18°
18 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mullan Pass Vor/Dme, ID, 28.7 mi away at 6,028 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
West Fork Cataract
~1 min drive
6.09-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,741 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Elk Mountain
~3 min drive
6.80-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,404 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
West Fork Canyon Creek
~4 min drive
9.71-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,786 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Elk Lake
~7 min drive
1.00-mile loop trail at Elk Lake in Montana with 407 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Roe Gulch
~6 min drive
6.01-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,319 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Water Hill
~5 min drive
19.31-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 3,668 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
20 ODD PEAK
~10 min drive
8.58-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 4,729 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Grouse Ridge
~7 min drive
1.23-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 451 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Bear Lakes
~13 min drive
5.57-mile out-and-back trail with 1,491 ft gain in Montana.
HIKE
Grouse Creek
~5 min drive
5.92-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,214 ft gain.
Route details
- Distance
- 16.1 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 4,040 ft
- Starts at
- CATARACT CREEK TH 847 (about 3,237 ft)
- Summit
- 6,652 ft
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Time
- About 7.5 hours
Getting there
Park at CATARACT CREEK TH 847.
Other routes up Seven Point Mountain
Questions about this route
How long is the Cataract Creek on Seven Point Mountain?
About 16.1 mi round trip from CATARACT CREEK TH 847 (about 3,237 ft).
How much elevation gain is on the Cataract Creek?
About 4,040 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Cataract Creek?
It is rated hard.
Where does the Cataract Creek start?
CATARACT CREEK TH 847 (about 3,237 ft).
How long does the Cataract Creek take?
About 7.5 hours round trip.
How many routes go up Seven Point Mountain?
2: Water Hill and Cataract Creek.
Conditions and forecast on Seven Point 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.
