Main South Fork

Main South Fork is a hard out-and-back hike in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, part of the Spotted Bear Ranger District of Flathead National Forest in northwest Montana. The route starts at about 3,746 feet and climbs to about 4,653 feet, with an elevation gain of 824 feet one way over a distance of about 66 miles. The trail is on natural surface, and horses are allowed. It is not an accessible trail. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Gibson Dam weather station, at a similar elevation, show July highs around 79°F and lows near 45°F, with fewer wet days than spring or fall. The South Fork Flathead River lies about a mile away, and the Cliff By-Pass and Picture Ridge hikes are both within a third of a mile. For an overnight base, Beaver Creek Campground is about 7 miles off.