Phillips
- 7.7 mi
- round trip
- 562 ft
- climb
- 4,398 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Phillips open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Flathead National Forest.
Camp Creek Fire Updated Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
FK&L Area Closed to Public Access Starting July 22, 2026
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Trail 800 Tally-Ashely Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Ryan Creek Occupancy and Use Order
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 1-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Logan Creek Hoke Creek Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Flathead National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Phillips is a hard hike in the Swan Lake Ranger District of Flathead National Forest in northwest Montana, about 7.7 miles long with a one-way elevation gain of 562 feet. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and runs on natural surface, and bikes are allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Bigfork show July highs around 80°F with lows near 55°F, and the trail sits higher than that station, so temperatures on the route run cooler. Estes Lake lies just 0.1 mile away, and Crane Creek and Flathead Lake are both within about 3 miles. Swan Lake Campground is roughly 8.6 miles off.
Local outfitters
- Rocky Mountain Outfitter20 mi away
- North American RV Park & Yurt Village30 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Oct
Best time to visit Phillips
Best months: May–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° / 25°
10 wet
Feb
37° / 26°
8 wet
Mar
45° / 30°
9 wet
Apr
53° / 35°
9 wet
May
63° / 43°
10 wet
Jun
70° / 49°
10 wet
Jul
80° / 55°
6 wet
Aug
79° / 54°
5 wet
Sep
69° / 47°
6 wet
Oct
55° / 38°
8 wet
Nov
42° / 32°
9 wet
Dec
34° / 26°
10 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bigfork 13 S, MT, 8.6 mi away at 2,979 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.
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