Clarence Ness
- 6.6 mi
- round trip
- 895 ft
- climb
- 5,761 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Clarence Ness open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Kootenai National Forest. It doesn't name Clarence Ness, 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.
Clarence Ness is a 6.6-mile out-and-back hike in the Fortine Ranger District of Montana's Kootenai National Forest. The route gains about 895 feet in elevation, from a low of 5,477 feet to a high of 5,761 feet, and is rated hard. The trail is open from July through October. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail has a natural surface. It is open to both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. The trailhead parking is at CLARENCE NESS THE 82 RD 7086. Several other destinations sit close by. Little Therriault Lake and Big Therriault Lake Campground are both within about a mile and a half, and the Horse Camp trailhead is under a mile away. Farther out, about 9 miles off, are Phillips Creek and the Tobacco River for paddlers.
Local outfitters
- Indian Springs Montana8 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Horse Camp/highline
~1 min drive
1.24-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 74 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Wolverine Lakes
~2 min drive
3-mile loop trail in Montana with 1,069 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Clarence
~5 min drive
10-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 997 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Little Therriault Lake Loop
~1 min drive
0.89-mile loop around Little Therriault Lake in Montana
HIKE
Bluebird
~2 min drive
5.50-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,063 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Stahl Peak
~6 min drive
9-mile out-and-back trail to Stahl Peak in Montana with 3,137 ft gain.
HIKE
GRAVE CREEK SNOWMOBL LITTLE T
~2 min drive
1.54-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 435 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Therriault Pass
~6 min drive
4.01-mile out-and-back trail at Therriault Pass in Montana with 1,572 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Foundation
~7 min drive
6.58-mile loop trail in Montana with 1,244 ft gain.
HIKE
David Nesbitt
~3 min drive
2.36-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 511 ft elevation gain.
