Montana · Hiking · Bob Marshall Wilderness

Murphy Ford

2.0 mi
round trip
34 ft
climb
4,534 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Murphy Ford open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Flathead National Forest.

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

Murphy Ford is an easy out-and-back hike of about 2 miles in Montana's Bob Marshall Wilderness, on the Spotted Bear Ranger District of Flathead National Forest. The trail runs from a low point of 4,388 feet to a high of 4,534 feet, with a total elevation gain of 34 feet, which makes it a gentle walk rather than a climb. The route is natural-surface and not accessible. Horses are allowed, but bikes are not. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Lindbergh Lake show July and August highs around 78°F with only about seven wet days a month, while winter brings highs near freezing and regular snow from December through March. Several other hikes sit close by. Holbrook Ford is about 0.3 miles away, Lime Creek and White River South Rim are each about 0.5 miles off, and Charlotte Peak is about a mile away.