Montana · Hiking · Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Hellroaring Meadows

2.5 mi
round trip
165 ft
climb
7,216 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Hellroaring Meadows open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name Hellroaring Meadows, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).

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

Hellroaring Meadows is an easy, out-and-back hike of about 2.5 miles in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, within the Gardiner Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The trail rises about 165 feet from a low point of 7,137 feet to a high of 7,216 feet, and it is open year-round. The route is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. Bikes are not. The trail lies within designated wilderness, and the Forest Service manages the surrounding land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Tower Falls, Wyoming, show July and August highs around 78°F with lows in the low 40s, while winter brings highs in the mid-20s and regular snow days from December through February. Several other trails start close by. Elk Creek Cutoff and Hellroaring are each about half a mile away, and Beaver Creek is about 0.6 miles off. Red Rock Plateau is roughly 1.7 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Hellroaring Meadows

    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.

    1. Jan

      26° / 4°

      12 wet · 13 snow

    2. Feb

      31° / 6°

      11 wet · 11 snow

    3. Mar

      41° / 16°

      10 wet · 9 snow

    4. Apr

      49° / 24°

      10 wet · 6 snow

    5. May

      59° / 31°

      12 wet · 2 snow

    6. Jun

      68° / 37°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 41°

      10 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 39°

      9 wet

    9. Sep

      69° / 32°

      9 wet · 1 snow

    10. Oct

      53° / 23°

      9 wet · 4 snow

    11. Nov

      36° / 13°

      10 wet · 9 snow

    12. Dec

      26° / 5°

      13 wet · 13 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Tower Falls, WY, 13 mi away at 6,275 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

HIKE

Coyote Creek Trailhead (2N1)

~9 min drive

This is a remote trailhead at the northern boundary of the park that is not accessible by road. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trail within the park: Coyote Creek Trail

Telephone BasinPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Telephone Basin

~9 min drive

4.46-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 625 ft elevation gain.

Buffalo ForkPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Buffalo Fork

~11 min drive

24.95-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,152 ft gain.

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Elk Creek Cutoff

~1 min drive

2.7-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 571 ft gain.

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Buffalo Plateau Trailhead (2N2)

~10 min drive

This is a remote trailhead at the northern boundary of the park that is not accessible by road. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trail within the park: Buffalo Plateau Trail

Hidden LakePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Hidden Lake

~11 min drive

4.02-mile out-and-back trail to Hidden Lake in Montana with 103 ft of elevation gain.

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Hellroaring

Next door

19.55-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,044 ft gain.

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Low Specimen

~5 min drive

0.46-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 133 ft elevation gain.

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Upper Hellroaring Trailhead (2N5)

~10 min drive

This is a remote trailhead at the northern boundary of the park that is not accessible by road. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trail within the park: Hellroaring Creek Trail

HIKE

Elk Creek Cutoff

Next door

3.54-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,503 ft elevation gain and loss.