Montana · Hiking

Gut Creek Trail

3.5 mi
round trip
1,106 ft
climb
3,943 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Gut Creek Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Kootenai National Forest. It doesn't name Gut Creek Trail, so check the source for the area it covers.

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

Gut Creek Trail is a 3.5-mile out-and-back hike in the Rexford Ranger District of the Kootenai National Forest in northwest Montana. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail runs on natural ground. It gains about 1,100 feet in elevation, from a low of 2,762 feet to a high of 3,943 feet. The climb is moderate, and the route works well for hikers who want a day of steady ascent on a trail that is open from June through October. Late summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Eureka, about 7 miles away, show September highs around 75°F with lows near 44°F and fewer wet days than in most other months. That station sits roughly 1,400 feet below the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. Pinkham Falls and Camp 32 both lie within about 2 miles of the trail. Farther out, Koocanusa Area and Beartrap Mountain are each about 4.6 miles away, and the Mario Land Boulders climbing area is about 5.2 miles off.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Gut Creek Trail

    Best months: April–June and September–October. 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

      32° / 19°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      39° / 21°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      49° / 28°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      60° / 34°

      8 wet

    5. May

      70° / 42°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      77° / 49°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      86° / 53°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      86° / 51°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      75° / 44°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      57° / 35°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      41° / 27°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      31° / 21°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Eureka Rs, MT, 7.2 mi away at 2,532 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.