Montana · Hiking · Bob Marshall Wilderness

Cox Creek

12.0 mi
round trip
815 ft
climb
5,940 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Cox Creek 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.

Cox Creek is a hard hike in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, part of the Spotted Bear Ranger District of Flathead National Forest in northwest Montana. The trail is 12 miles long, and the one-way climb is about 815 feet from the low point at roughly 5,030 feet to the high point near 5,940 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is a natural-surface route that is accessible to horses but not to bikes. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby E Glacier weather station, which sits well below the trail, show July and August highs around 74°F with lows in the mid-40s. Winter is harsh, with January and February highs near 30°F. The Winter Cox Divide trail lies about half a mile away, and the Big River and Calbick Creek trails are both within about two miles. Paddlers can reach the Middle Fork Flathead River, roughly 6 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Cox 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

      30° / 13°

    2. Feb

      30° / 13°

    3. Mar

      37° / 19°

    4. Apr

      46° / 27°

    5. May

      56° / 34°

    6. Jun

      64° / 41°

    7. Jul

      74° / 46°

    8. Aug

      74° / 44°

    9. Sep

      63° / 38°

    10. Oct

      50° / 29°

    11. Nov

      36° / 22°

    12. Dec

      29° / 15°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at E Glacier, MT, 26 mi away at 4,806 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.

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