Elk Mountain
- 6.8 mi
- round trip
- 2,404 ft
- climb
- 5,658 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Elk Mountain open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Kootenai National Forest. It doesn't name Elk Mountain, so check the source for the area it covers.
Kootenai Flood Event & Inaccessible Areas
Agency closure covering Kootenai National Forest · USFS · Kootenai National Forest
Updated Skillet Fire Area, Road, Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Kootenai National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Kootenai National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Kootenai National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Elk Mountain is a hard hike of 6.8 miles on the natural-surfaced trail in the Cabinet Ranger District of Montana's Kootenai National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back with a one-way climb of 2,404 feet, rising from a low point of 3,215 feet to a high of 5,658 feet. Bikes are allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 70°F with only about six wet days a month, while winter highs sit in the mid-20s. That station sits about 370 feet higher than the summit, so temperatures on the mountain run a little warmer. Cataract Creek and West Fork Cataract are both within about 2 miles. Paddlers can reach the Vermilion River about 2.9 miles away, and Willow Creek Campground offers a place to stay about 6.1 miles out.
Local outfitters
- CDA River RV47 mi away
- Kootenai River Campground49 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Cataract CreekHiking1.5 mi
- West Fork CataractHiking1.9 mi
- Grouse CreekHiking2.2 mi
- Vermilion RiverCanoeing2.9 mi
- Willow Creek CampgroundCamping6.1 mi
- Silver Butte Fisher RiverCanoeing7.4 mi
- East Fisher CreekCanoeing7.9 mi
- Sylvan Lake CampgroundCamping8.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Cataract CreekHiking · ~3 min drive
- West Fork CataractHiking · ~3 min drive
- Elk LakeHiking · ~4 min drive
- West Fork Canyon CreekHiking · ~5 min drive
- Grouse CreekHiking · ~4 min drive
- Roe GulchHiking · ~7 min drive
- Grouse RidgeHiking · ~7 min drive
- 20 ODD PEAKHiking · ~11 min drive
- Bear CreekHiking · ~7 min drive
- Bear LakesHiking · ~11 min drive
Best time to visit Elk Mountain
Best months: July–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
28° / 19°
19 wet
Feb
28° / 19°
17 wet
Mar
34° / 22°
19 wet
Apr
40° / 27°
17 wet
May
50° / 36°
15 wet
Jun
58° / 42°
13 wet
Jul
70° / 52°
6 wet
Aug
69° / 51°
6 wet
Sep
59° / 44°
8 wet
Oct
44° / 32°
13 wet
Nov
32° / 23°
17 wet
Dec
27° / 18°
18 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mullan Pass Vor/Dme, ID, 30.2 mi away at 6,028 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Route details
- Distance
- 6.8 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 2,404 ft
- Starts at
- ELK MOUNTAIN TH 861 (about 3,815 ft)
- Summit
- 5,664 ft
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Time
- About 3.5 hours
Getting there
Park at ELK MOUNTAIN TH 861.
Questions about this route
How long is the Elk Mountain on Elk Mountain?
About 6.8 mi round trip from ELK MOUNTAIN TH 861 (about 3,815 ft).
How much elevation gain is on the Elk Mountain?
About 2,404 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Elk Mountain?
It is rated hard.
Where does the Elk Mountain start?
ELK MOUNTAIN TH 861 (about 3,815 ft).
How long does the Elk Mountain take?
About 3.5 hours round trip.
Conditions and forecast on Elk Mountain
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
