Pattee North --Picnic Loop
Photo: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- 1.0 mi
- loop
- 98 ft
- climb
- 4,157 ft
- high point
- Loop
- route
- Jul–Oct
- best months
Is Pattee North --Picnic Loop 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.
Pattee North --Picnic Loop is a short, easy loop in the Missoula Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in western Montana. The trail is about a mile long, with a total elevation gain of 98 feet, and it sits at an elevation of roughly 4,059 to 4,157 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is paved, so it works well for walking, biking or a quick stop at the picnic area. The route is a loop, and the climb is gentle, making it an easy outing for all ages. The trailhead is at Pattee Canyon Trailhead, and the loop is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit, with typical July highs around 85°F and lows near 52°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station in Missoula. Winter brings frequent snow days, with typical highs in the low 30s from December through February. Several other routes start close by, including the Pattee North --Meadow Loop and the Pattee South -- Cutoff B mountain biking route. For a longer stay, Pattee Canyon Picnic Area is about 5 miles away.
Best time to go · Jul–Oct
Best time to visit Pattee North --Picnic Loop
Best months: July–October. 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.
Jan
34° / 20°
14 wet · 10 snow
Feb
39° / 22°
11 wet · 8 snow
Mar
49° / 27°
13 wet · 6 snow
Apr
57° / 33°
12 wet · 2 snow
May
67° / 41°
13 wet
Jun
73° / 47°
13 wet
Jul
85° / 52°
7 wet
Aug
84° / 51°
7 wet
Sep
73° / 44°
8 wet
Oct
56° / 34°
10 wet · 1 snow
Nov
41° / 26°
12 wet · 6 snow
Dec
33° / 20°
14 wet · 10 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Missoula 2 Ne, MT, 5.4 mi away at 3,420 ft. The station sits about 700 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
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