East Fork Buffalo
- 2.7 mi
- round trip
- 582 ft
- climb
- 8,707 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Aug
- best months
Caution today
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 1 h ago
Is East Fork Buffalo open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name East Fork Buffalo, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).
NFSR #1700 South Plateau Road Closure
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Tom Miner Campground Closure
Agency closure covering Gardiner Ranger District · Order 01-11-03-26-02 · USFS · Gardiner Ranger District
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Summer Interim Travel Order and Map and Order # 01-11-00-26-02
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-00-26-02 · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Winter Interim Travel Order and Map Order Number: #01-11-00-26-01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Glacier Lake Road #2421 Closure Order Number: # 01-11-82-26- 01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-82-26- · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
East Fork Buffalo is an easy out-and-back hike in Montana's Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, on the Gardiner Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest. The trail is about 2.7 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 582 feet, and it rises from a low point of 8,119 feet to a high of 8,707 feet. The route is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Cooke City, which sits about 1,200 feet lower, show July highs around 74°F with lows near 39°F, while winter highs there stay in the 20s. Nearby hikes include Bull Creek and Buffalo Fork, each about 2.8 miles away, and Hidden Lake at about 3.5 miles. Telephone Basin is about 3.6 miles off.
- Bull CreekHiking2.8 mi
Buffalo ForkHikingPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)2.8 mi- Tucker CreekHiking3 mi
- Hidden LakeHikingPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)3.5 mi
- Telephone BasinHikingPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)3.6 mi
- Buffalo DivideHiking4.3 mi
- West Fork HellroaringHiking4.5 mi
- Lower Sheep CreekHiking4.7 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Buffalo ForkHiking · ~5 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- Hidden LakeHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- East Fork CutoffHiking · ~9 min drive
- Buffalo Fork Trailhead (2N3)Hiking · ~14 min drive
- Bull CreekHiking · ~5 min drive
- Telephone BasinHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- IndependenceHiking · ~9 min drive
- Upper Slough Trailhead (2N4)Hiking · ~15 min drive
- Tucker CreekHiking · ~5 min drive
- Buffalo DivideHiking · ~7 min drive
Best time to visit East Fork Buffalo
Best months: July–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.
Jan
24° / 6°
17 wet
Feb
29° / 7°
13 wet
Mar
37° / 14°
13 wet
Apr
43° / 21°
13 wet
May
54° / 28°
14 wet
Jun
64° / 34°
14 wet
Jul
74° / 39°
11 wet
Aug
71° / 38°
11 wet
Sep
62° / 31°
10 wet
Oct
47° / 24°
11 wet
Nov
31° / 13°
14 wet
Dec
22° / 6°
17 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cooke City 2 W, MT, 16 mi away at 7,483 ft. The station sits about 1,200 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.
