Montana · Hiking

Mud Creek

7.4 mi
round trip
1,009 ft
climb
6,070 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Mud Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 4 alerts for Bitterroot National Forest.

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

Mud Creek is a hard hike of about 7.4 miles in the West Fork Ranger District of Montana's Bitterroot National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is natural-surfaced and shaped as an out-and-back, with the low point at about 5,159 feet and the high at about 6,070 feet, so the one-way climb is roughly 1,009 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 82°F with lows near 43°F, and September highs around 73°F. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Several other hikes start close by, including Bonnie Blue about a mile away and Took Mud Ridge at about 1.5 miles. For an overnight stay, Rombo campground is about 2.1 miles off, and Slate Creek Campground is about 3 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Mud 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° / 13°

      8 wet

    2. Feb

      39° / 14°

      7 wet

    3. Mar

      48° / 22°

      9 wet

    4. Apr

      55° / 27°

      11 wet

    5. May

      64° / 33°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 40°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      82° / 43°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 40°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 34°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      58° / 27°

      8 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 20°

      10 wet

    12. Dec

      33° / 12°

      10 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sula 3 Ene, MT, 19.7 mi away at 4,475 ft. The station sits about 1,600 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.