Montana · Hiking · Bob Marshall Wilderness

Foolhen Creek

8.1 mi
round trip
590 ft
climb
5,688 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Foolhen Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Flathead National Forest.

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

Foolhen Creek is an 8-mile out-and-back hike in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, within the Spotted Bear Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest in Montana. The trail climbs from about 5,021 feet to about 5,688 feet, a total gain of 590 feet one way, and it is rated hard. The Forest Service manages the land. The route is natural-surface and not accessible. Horses are allowed, and bikes are not. The trail is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Gibson Dam weather station, about 21 miles away, show July highs near 79°F and lows around 45°F. That station sits roughly 1,100 feet lower, so temperatures on the trail run cooler. Sentinel Mtn. and East Side South Fork both start within a tenth of a mile. Ayres and Danaher Creek, a paddling spot, are each within about 1.5 miles.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Foolhen Creek

    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.

    1. Jan

      36° / 12°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      36° / 12°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 18°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 25°

      7 wet

    5. May

      59° / 33°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 39°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 45°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 43°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 36°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 29°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 20°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 13°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gibson Dam, MT, 21 mi away at 4,590 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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.