Mckay Mountain
- 2.7 mi
- round trip
- 1,862 ft
- climb
- 5,348 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Mckay Mountain open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Kootenai National Forest. It doesn't name Mckay Mountain, so check the source for the area it covers.
Kootenai Flood Event & Inaccessible Areas
Agency closure covering Kootenai National Forest · USFS · Kootenai National Forest
Updated Skillet Fire Area, Road, Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Kootenai National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Kootenai National Forest
Trail Advisory-Alexander Mountain Trail near Timber Harvest Activities
Agency alert covering Libby Ranger District · USFS · Libby Ranger District
Timberlane Campground Closure
Agency alert covering Libby Ranger District · Order 01-14-05-26-03 · USFS · Libby Ranger District
As of · Source: USFS · Kootenai National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
McKay Mountain is a hard hike in the Libby Ranger District of Montana's Kootenai National Forest, about 2.7 miles long with an elevation gain of 1,862 feet. The trail is an out-and-back, starting at a trailhead called McKay Mountain TH 471, which sits at about 3,483 feet and climbs to a high point of 5,348 feet. The route is rated hard, and the climb is steep. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows bikes, so riders can take it on a mountain bike. The trail is open from about May 1 to October 30. The nearest town is Libby, and the trailhead is the natural starting point. Big Cherry Creek is just 0.3 miles away, and Snowshoe Pipeline and Cable Creek are both within about 2.4 miles. For an overnight stay, Howard Lake Campground is about 7.9 miles off.
Local outfitters
- Kootenai River Campground25 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Big Cherry Creek
Next door
6.07-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 380 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Snowshoe Pipeline
~4 min drive
1.25-mile loop trail in Montana with 735 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Leigh Lake
~5 min drive
1.52-mile loop trail in Montana with 969 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Cable Creek
~4 min drive
6.43-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,769 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Leigh Lake South
~5 min drive
0.78-mile out-and-back trail at Leigh Lake South, Montana with 228 ft gain.
HIKE
Swamp Creek
~14 min drive
2.13-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 856 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Poorman Creek
~8 min drive
8.90-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 617 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
BEAR CREEK X-C SKI LOOP B
~11 min drive
0.81-mile loop ski trail in Montana with 132 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Flower Bypass
~16 min drive
3.91-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 469 ft gain.
HIKE
Granite Creek
~12 min drive
11.70-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 4,484 ft of elevation gain.