Placer Basin
- 23.0 mi
- round trip
- 3,425 ft
- climb
- 9,391 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Caution at last check
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 20 h ago
Is Placer Basin open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Yellowstone Ranger District. It doesn't name Placer Basin, so check the source for the area it covers (13 listed).
East Fork of the Mill Creek Trail Bridge Stock Closure
Agency closure covering Yellowstone Ranger District · Order 01-11-04-26-03 · USFS · Yellowstone Ranger District
NFSR #1700 South Plateau Road Closure
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Summer Interim Travel Order and Map and Order # 01-11-00-26-02
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-00-26-02 · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Winter Interim Travel Order and Map Order Number: #01-11-00-26-01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Glacier Lake Road #2421 Closure Order Number: # 01-11-82-26- 01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-82-26- · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Yellowstone Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Placer Basin is a hard hike in the Yellowstone Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, about 10 miles from the town of Contact. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from a low point of about 5,750 feet to a high of about 9,391 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 3,425 feet over a distance of about 23 miles. The trail is on natural surface and allows horses. Bikes are not permitted. The closest neighbors are the Speculator hike and Fourmile Cabin, both about 2 miles away. The Meatrack hike and the Fourmile hike are also within about 3 miles.
Local outfitters
- Yellowstone Safari Company46 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Fourmile
~5 min drive
Fourmile is a 14.85-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 3011 feet of elevation gain.
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Trail Creek
~9 min drive
3.73-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 254 ft of elevation gain.
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Upsidedown Creek
~14 min drive
0.30-mile out-and-back trail at Upsidedown Creek in Montana
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Falls Creek
~14 min drive
9.53-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 3,782 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Green Mountain
~21 min drive
10.99-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,158 ft gain.
HIKE
Silver Lake
~11 min drive
3.76-mile out-and-back trail to Silver Lake in Montana with 1,087 ft gain.
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Pinchot Lake
~16 min drive
7.21-mile out-and-back trail to Pinchot Lake in Montana with 420 ft gain
Photo: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Meatrack
~4 min drive
9.06-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,031 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Hi Ho Silver
~13 min drive
1.61-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 146 ft gain.
HIKE
East Fork Cutoff
~19 min drive
0.94-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 328 ft elevation gain.
Also worth it near here
