Montana · Hiking · Near Emigrant

Hyalite Canyon

Hyalite CanyonPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
10.5 mi
round trip
323 ft
climb
6,990 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Hyalite Canyon open right now?

Closure reported

The Forest Service lists a closure that covers Hyalite Canyon.

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

Hyalite Canyon is a hard hike in the Bozeman Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, about 10.5 miles long with a one-way elevation gain of 323 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced, with horses and bikes both allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Big Sky show July highs around 78°F with lows near 41°F, and the station sits about 400 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the canyon run a little cooler. The Westshore hike starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Fr 62 Lower Hyalite Creek Road 026e campground is about 0.2 mile off. Crescent Lake and the Lower Wildhorse Lick Trail are each about 0.4 mile away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Hyalite Below Dam Camping

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Blacksmith Italian

    Restaurant

    Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Emigrant

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Hyalite Canyon

    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

      30° / 9°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 9°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 17°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 23°

      11 wet

    5. May

      58° / 30°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 36°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 41°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 39°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 33°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 25°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      37° / 16°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / 9°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Sky 2wnw, MT, 22.2 mi away at 6,590 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

    Closures we've recorded since August 2026

    • Hyalite Canyon South Road #620 Closure

      Bozeman Ranger District · Order dated November 4, 2026; seen Oct 30, 2026, no lift recorded · Forest Service

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Crescent LakePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crescent Lake

Next door

2.66-mile out-and-back trail to Crescent Lake in Montana with 148 ft of elevation gain.

BlackmorePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Blackmore

~1 min drive

12.22-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,955 ft elevation gain.

Lower Wildhorse Lick TrailPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Lower Wildhorse Lick Trail

~2 min drive

8.52-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,661 ft elevation gain

New World GulchPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

New World Gulch

~12 min drive

11.04-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,025 ft gain.

Wildhorse Cutoff TrailPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Wildhorse Cutoff Trail

~2 min drive

0.6-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 156 ft elevation gain.

East Fork DividePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

East Fork Divide

~6 min drive

4.96-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,455 ft elevation gain.

Hyalite Creek TrailPhoto: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hyalite Creek Trail

~11 min drive

2.9-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 1,099 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Storm Castle Creek Trail

~11 min drive

15.5-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 4,109 ft elevation gain/loss.

Hood Creek TrailPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Hood Creek Trail

~2 min drive

2.48-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 854 ft gain and 7,537 ft max elevation.

Emerald Lake TrailPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Emerald Lake Trail

~6 min drive

10.92-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,708 ft elevation gain