Montana · Hiking

Needles

4.4 mi
round trip
14 ft
climb
7,677 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Caution today

Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 4 h ago

Is Needles open right now?

No closures listed

The Forest Service lists no closures for Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Needles is a moderate out-and-back hike in the Townsend Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana, about 4.4 miles long with a total elevation gain of 14 feet. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and is open year-round. The route starts at a low point of about 7,120 feet and climbs to a high of about 7,677 feet. It is a natural-surface trail, and both horses and bikes are allowed. Grace Lake lies about a mile away, and Edith Lake and Holloway are each roughly 3.6 miles off. For an overnight stay, Gipsy Lake Campground is about 3.8 miles from the trail.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Gipsy Lake Campground LoopPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gipsy Lake Campground Loop

~7 min drive

0.85-mile out-and-back out-and-back at Gipsy Lake Campground in Montana with 91 ft of elevation gain.

LITTLE CAMAS CREEKPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

LITTLE CAMAS CREEK

~7 min drive

7.52-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,913 ft elevation gain and loss.

HollowayPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Holloway

~6 min drive

6.05-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,736 ft elevation gain.

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Grace Lake

~2 min drive

1.98-mile out-and-back trail to Grace Lake in Montana with 672 ft of elevation gain.

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West Fork Cabin Gulch

~8 min drive

5.60-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 829 ft gain.

GipsyPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Gipsy

~6 min drive

12.41-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 908 ft elevation gain

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Camas Lake

~14 min drive

1.94-mile out-and-back trail to Camas Lake in Montana with 216 ft of elevation gain.

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Pickfoot

~16 min drive

5.44-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 32 ft gain and 1,528 ft loss.

Hidden LakePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hidden Lake

~7 min drive

9.89-mile out-and-back trail to Hidden Lake in Montana with 1,046 ft elevation gain.

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Travic Trail

~32 min drive

0.72-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 132 ft elevation gain