Montana · Hiking

Mccabe Creek

11.4 mi
round trip
1,159 ft
climb
6,054 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 14 h ago

Is Mccabe Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Lolo National Forest.

  • East Fork Big Creek Road & Trail Closure- Superior Ranger District

    Agency alert covering Lolo National Forest · Order 26-003- · USFS · Lolo National Forest

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

McCabe Creek is a hard hike on natural trail in the Seeley Lake Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in Montana. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trailhead is named McCabe Creek Trailhead. The out-and-back route is about 11 miles long, climbing from a low of about 4,818 feet to a high of about 6,054 feet. The trail is open year-round, and parking is at McCabe Creek Trailhead. Bikes and horses are both allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 81°F with lows in the low 40s. That station sits about 1,500 feet lower than the high point, so expect cooler temperatures up top. Several other hikes start within a few miles, including Monture and Spread Mountain, about 2 miles away, and Work Center and Center Ridge, about 2.5 miles away. Big Nelson Campground Complex is about 9 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 Mccabe Creek

    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

      32° / 12°

      9 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 15°

      8 wet

    3. Mar

      44° / 22°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      53° / 27°

      9 wet

    5. May

      63° / 33°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      71° / 40°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 44°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 42°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 35°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 29°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      39° / 20°

      8 wet

    12. Dec

      30° / 13°

      8 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lincoln Rs, MT, 23.9 mi away at 4,575 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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.