Driftwood
- 8.7 mi
- round trip
- 448 ft
- climb
- 6,228 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Driftwood open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists an alert for Lolo National Forest.
East Fork Big Creek Road & Trail Closure- Superior Ranger District
Agency alert covering Lolo National Forest · Order 26-003- · USFS · Lolo National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Lolo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Driftwood is a hard hike in the Scapegoat Wilderness, part of the Seeley Lake Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in Montana. The route is an out-and-back of about 8.7 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 448 feet, taking you from a low point of about 5,689 feet to a high of about 6,228 feet. The trail is on natural surface and bikes are not allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Gibson Dam show July highs around 79°F with lows near 45°F, and the station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The station also records about 7 wet days in July, the fewest of the year. The hike is open year-round, and the Forest Service manages the land. Several other routes and paddling waters lie within a few miles, including Old North Fork 4, the North Fork Blackfoot River and Falls Point.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Driftwood
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.
Jan
36° / 12°
5 wet
Feb
36° / 12°
6 wet
Mar
42° / 18°
7 wet
Apr
50° / 25°
7 wet
May
59° / 33°
10 wet
Jun
67° / 39°
10 wet
Jul
79° / 45°
7 wet
Aug
78° / 43°
6 wet
Sep
67° / 36°
6 wet
Oct
54° / 29°
6 wet
Nov
42° / 20°
5 wet
Dec
35° / 13°
5 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gibson Dam, MT, 27.3 mi away at 4,590 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.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Old North Fork 4
~2 min drive
5.81-mile out-and-back trail on the North Fork with 300 ft gain in Montana.
HIKE
East Fork (Of North Fork)
~2 min drive
1.80-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 213 ft gain.
HIKE
Mcdonnell Meadows
~7 min drive
3.40-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 939 ft gain.
HIKE
Sarbo Creek
~3 min drive
7.34-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 902 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Falls Point Cutacross
~3 min drive
2.18-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 530 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Twin Lakes
~8 min drive
4.57-mile out-and-back trail at Twin Lakes, Montana with 226 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Falls Point
~3 min drive
5.37-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,028 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Old North Fork 3 (Cabin Grade)
~4 min drive
0.72-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 331 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Canyon Point
~12 min drive
5.10-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,369 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Dry Fork
~4 min drive
Dry Fork is a 16.63-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 487 feet of elevation gain.
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