Pilgrim Creek
- 10.7 mi
- round trip
- 348 ft
- climb
- 4,727 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Oct
- best months
Is Pilgrim Creek 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.
Pilgrim Creek is a 10.7-mile out-and-back hike in the Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana. The trail rises from a low point of 4,304 feet to a high of 4,727 feet, with a total elevation gain of 348 feet. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated hard. The route is natural-surfaced and open to both horses and bikes. It is not an accessible trail. The trailhead is at North Pilgrim, and the trail is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Neihart, which sits about 500 feet higher than the trail, show July and August highs around 81°F with lows near 47°F. Winters are cold, with January highs around 37°F and lows near 16°F. Nearby options include the Bighorn and Dry Gulch hikes, Logging Creek Campground and the Sawmill hike.
- BighornHiking2.4 mi
- Dry GulchHiking3 mi
- Logging Creek CgCamping3.3 mi
- SawmillHiking4 mi
- Paine GulchHiking5.9 mi
- Figure 8 Loop NRTHiking6.2 mi
- Belt CreekCanoeing7.6 mi
- Monument Peak LookoutCamping9.1 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- BighornHiking · ~4 min drive
- Dry GulchHiking · ~5 min drive
- Figure 8 Loop NRTHiking · ~11 min drive
- MONUMENT RIDGEHiking · ~12 min drive
- SawmillHiking · ~7 min drive
- Paine GulchHiking · ~10 min drive
- Parker RidgeHiking · ~21 min drive
- Tillinghast CreekHiking · ~11 min drive
- Long CouleeHiking · ~11 min drive
- Crescent Park ConnectorHiking · ~21 min drive
Best time to visit Pilgrim Creek
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
37° / 16°
Feb
40° / 16°
Mar
46° / 22°
Apr
54° / 27°
May
63° / 35°
Jun
71° / 42°
Jul
81° / 47°
Aug
81° / 47°
Sep
72° / 40°
Oct
58° / 32°
Nov
44° / 24°
Dec
37° / 16°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Neihart 8 Nnw, MT, 8.5 mi away at 5,230 ft. The station sits about 500 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
