Montana · Hiking · Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Falls Creek

9.5 mi
round trip
3,782 ft
climb
8,949 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Falls Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Yellowstone Ranger District. It doesn't name Falls Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (13 listed).

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

Falls Creek is a long, steep out-and-back hike in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, part of the Yellowstone Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The route climbs from about 5,200 feet to nearly 9,000 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 3,800 feet over roughly 9.5 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated expert. The trail is natural-surfaced and open to horses, and bikes are not allowed. The parking area is called Great Falls, and the route is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station at Silver Gate run to highs around 74°F and lows near 40°F, and the station sits about 1,450 feet below the high point, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. The Boulder River-Great Falls Trail starts just 0.4 miles away, and Great Falls Creek is about 1.5 miles off. For an overnight base, Big Beaver and Aspen campgrounds are both within about 2.4 miles.