Montana · Hiking · Bob Marshall Wilderness

Cliff By-Pass

0.5 mi
round trip
21 ft
climb
4,151 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Oct
best months

Is Cliff By-Pass open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Flathead National Forest.

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

Cliff By-Pass is an easy, short out-and-back hike in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, on the Spotted Bear Ranger District of Flathead National Forest in northwest Montana. The trail is 0.48 miles long, with a low of about 4,125 feet and a high of about 4,151 feet, so it is a low-elevation, nearly level walk through the wilderness. The route is a natural-surface trail, and it is not accessible. Horses are allowed, and bikes are not. The land is managed by the Forest Service, and the trail is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Swan Lake weather station, about 21 miles away, put July and August highs near 82°F with lows in the mid-40s. That station sits roughly 1,050 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the pass run cooler. The Main South Fork and Picture Ridge hikes are both within a third of a mile. The South Fork Flathead River is about a mile away, and Beaver Creek Campground is about 7 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Cliff By-Pass

    Best months: May–October. 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

      31° / 18°

    2. Feb

      36° / 18°

    3. Mar

      45° / 26°

    4. Apr

      54° / 31°

    5. May

      64° / 38°

    6. Jun

      71° / 44°

    7. Jul

      82° / 48°

    8. Aug

      82° / 46°

    9. Sep

      70° / 39°

    10. Oct

      55° / 32°

    11. Nov

      39° / 25°

    12. Dec

      30° / 20°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Swan Lake, MT, 21.1 mi away at 3,100 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.