Montana · Hiking · Bob Marshall Wilderness

Gordon Ford

1.6 mi
round trip
14 ft
climb
4,663 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Gordon Ford 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.

Gordon Ford is a short, easy out-and-back hike in Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness, on the Spotted Bear Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest. It is a Forest Service trail, and it sits within the wilderness, so plan on a route that stays well within the protected backcountry. The trail is about 1.6 miles long, and the climb is minimal. The low point is at roughly 4,654 feet, and the high point is about 4,663 feet, so the total elevation gain is about 14 feet. Horses are allowed, and the surface is natural, but the trail is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Gibson Dam weather station, about 23 miles away, show July highs near 79°F with lows around 45°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. The trail is open year-round, and it makes a convenient base for exploring the network of short creek routes around it. Catchem Creek is just 0.1 mile away, and Brownstone Creek and Hahn Creek are within about a mile. Pilot Peak lies about 1.8 miles off.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Gordon Ford

    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, 23.1 mi away at 4,590 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.