Montana · Hiking · Near Emigrant

Pine Creek

8.5 mi
round trip
3,187 ft
climb
8,545 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Aug
best months

Is Pine Creek open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name Pine Creek, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).

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

Pine Creek is a hard hike in the Gardiner Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, about 8.5 miles long and climbing more than 3,100 feet. The route starts at a trailhead called Pine Creek and reaches a high point of 8,545 feet, with the low point at 6,512 feet. The trail is an out-and-back and is managed by the Forest Service, which allows horses. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Cooke City show July highs around 74°F with lows near 39°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The station sits about 1,000 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures up top run cooler. The trailhead parking is marked as Pine Creek (Trailhead), and the route is open year-round. Close by, the Main Bear Creek Trail and Bear Creek (Snowmo) sit about 0.2 miles away, and Bear Creek campground is about 2.7 miles off.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Bear Creek Road-001d

    Campground

    Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Iron Horse Bar & Grill

    Restaurant

    Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Emigrant

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jul–Aug

    Best time to visit Pine Creek

    Best months: July–August. 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.

    1. Jan

      24° / 6°

      17 wet

    2. Feb

      29° / 7°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      37° / 14°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      43° / 21°

      13 wet

    5. May

      54° / 28°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      64° / 34°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 39°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 38°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      62° / 31°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      47° / 24°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      31° / 13°

      14 wet

    12. Dec

      22° / 6°

      17 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cooke City 2 W, MT, 32 mi away at 7,483 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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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