Montana · Hiking

Kencks Cabin

1.2 mi
round trip
49 ft
climb
5,327 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Caution at last check

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 22 h ago

Is Kencks Cabin open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Rocky Mountain Ranger District.

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

Kencks Cabin is an easy hike of about 1.2 miles in the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is short and gentle, with a total elevation gain of about 50 feet, and it makes a natural pairing with the Kenck Cabin campground and the South Fork Campground, both about 0.2 miles away. The route is natural-surfaced and allows horses, so it works well for riders. Bikes are not permitted. The climb is an out-and-back, with the high point at about 5,327 feet and the low at about 5,279 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Gibson Dam weather station show July highs around 79°F with lows near 45°F, and the station sits about 700 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the hike run a little cooler. The South Fork Sun River, about 4 miles away, offers canoeing, and Benchmark Campground is about 1.3 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Kencks Cabin

    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, 9.2 mi away at 4,590 ft. The station sits about 700 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.