Montana · Hiking · Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Crow Lake

1.0 mi
round trip
160 ft
climb
9,071 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Crow Lake open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Beartooth Ranger District. It doesn't name Crow Lake, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Beartooth Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Crow Lake is an easy, 1-mile out-and-back hike in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness of Montana's Custer Gallatin National Forest, within the Beartooth Ranger District. The trail rises about 160 feet from a low point of 8,919 feet to a high of 9,071 feet. It's a short walk suited to a day in the backcountry, and it works well paired with other outings in the area. The route is on natural surface, and horses are allowed, though bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail falls inside designated wilderness. The trip is typically open from June through September, so plan around those months for the most comfortable conditions. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Silver Gate weather station run to highs in the mid-70s in July, with lows around 40 degrees. That station sits roughly 1,600 feet below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Sylvan Lake is about a mile away, and Lake Mary and West Fork Rock Creek are each within about 3.5 miles. East Rosebud Campground, about 3.5 miles off, offers a place to stay overnight.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Crow Lake

    Best months: June–August. 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

      27° / 3°

    2. Feb

      30° / 5°

    3. Mar

      39° / 12°

    4. Apr

      44° / 20°

    5. May

      55° / 29°

    6. Jun

      65° / 35°

    7. Jul

      74° / 40°

    8. Aug

      73° / 37°

    9. Sep

      64° / 30°

    10. Oct

      50° / 23°

    11. Nov

      33° / 12°

    12. Dec

      24° / 2°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Silver Gate, MT, 23 mi away at 7,495 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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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