Montana · Hiking

Dry Creek

7.5 mi
round trip
121 ft
climb
2,507 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Dry Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Kootenai National Forest. It doesn't name Dry Creek, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Dry Creek is an easy, out-and-back hike in the Cabinet Ranger District of Montana's Kootenai National Forest, about 7.5 miles long with a total elevation gain of 121 feet. The trail runs from a Forest Service trailhead called DRY CREEK TH 1020, and it is open year-round. The route is short and gentle, rising from a low point of about 2,298 feet to a high of about 2,507 feet. It is a natural-surface trail, and bikes are allowed. It is not an accessible trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 82°F with lows in the mid-40s and the fewest wet days of the year. Winter brings highs in the low 30s and regular snow days from December through February. Bad Medicine Campground sits just 0.1 mile from the trailhead, and Hamilton Gulch is about 1.5 miles away. West Fork Dry Creek and the Bull River, a canoeing route, are both about 3.2 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Dry Creek

    Best months: June–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

      33° / 23°

      17 wet · 12 snow

    2. Feb

      37° / 23°

      14 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      47° / 27°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    4. Apr

      57° / 31°

      13 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      67° / 39°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 45°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 47°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      82° / 46°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      71° / 40°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      55° / 34°

      13 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      40° / 29°

      16 wet · 6 snow

    12. Dec

      32° / 23°

      18 wet · 12 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Heron 2 Nw, MT, 7.9 mi away at 2,240 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.