Montana · Hiking

Initial Creek

Initial CreekPhoto: Jstuby at en.wikipedia, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)
6.8 mi
round trip
467 ft
climb
6,581 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Initial Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Beartooth Ranger District. It doesn't name Initial Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).

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

Initial Creek is a 6.8-mile out-and-back hike in the Beartooth Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The trail rises from a low point of 6,045 feet to a high of 6,581 feet, with a total elevation gain of 467 feet. It is a moderate route, and the trail surface is natural, so plan on a walk over rough ground rather than a smooth path. The trail is open from July through September, and the Forest Service lists the Castle Creek parking area as the place to start. That makes it a natural base for a longer stay in the district, since Initial Creek Campground sits about 1.6 miles away and Meyers Creek Cabin is roughly 4.9 miles off. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Mystic Lake weather station, at a similar elevation, show July highs around 75°F with lows near 50°F, while winter highs stay in the low to mid 30s. The trail is open to both horses and bikes, so riders and pack animals can join the trip. For more time on foot, the Rabbit Gulch Trailhead Spur is about a mile away and Castle Creek is 1.4 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Initial Creek

    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

      34° / 18°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 17°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      41° / 22°

      11 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 27°

      12 wet

    5. May

      57° / 35°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      66° / 43°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      75° / 50°

      12 wet

    8. Aug

      74° / 50°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      65° / 42°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      52° / 32°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      40° / 24°

      9 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 18°

      9 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mystic Lake, MT, 15.8 mi away at 6,544 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Rabbit Gulch Trailhead SpurPhoto: Jstuby at en.wikipedia, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Rabbit Gulch Trailhead Spur

~2 min drive

0.64-mile out-and-back trail with 115 ft elevation gain in Montana.

Stillwater RiverPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Stillwater River

~9 min drive

17.26-mile out-and-back trail along Stillwater River in Montana with 1,639 ft gain.

HIKE

Castle Creek

~2 min drive

11.78-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,809 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Telegraph Creek

~11 min drive

2.96-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,115 ft of elevation gain.

Woodbine FallsPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)

Woodbine Falls

~9 min drive

1.56-mile out-and-back trail to Woodbine Falls in Montana with 272 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

West Fork Stillwater

~4 min drive

16.18-mile out-and-back trail on the West Fork Stillwater in Montana

HIKE

Falls Creek

~25 min drive

9.53-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 3,782 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Lodgepole

~15 min drive

3.43-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 961 ft of elevation gain

Gorge BypassPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Gorge Bypass

~9 min drive

Gorge Bypass is a 0.73-mile loop trail in Montana with 394 feet of elevation gain.

HIKE

Pass Creek

~6 min drive

7.09-mile out-and-back trail to Pass Creek in Montana with 553 ft gain.