Montana · Hiking

Quartz Flat Nature

1.1 mi
round trip
71 ft
climb
2,863 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct
best months

Is Quartz Flat Nature 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.

Quartz Flat Nature is a short, easy hike in Montana's Lolo National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about a mile long, with a low point of 2,792 feet and a high of 2,863 feet, so the climb is gentle, about 70 feet of elevation gain over the course of the out-and-back route. The trail is natural-surfaced and open to bikes, and it is not an accessible trail. It is a year-round route, and Quartz Flat Campground sits just 0.3 miles away, making it an easy pairing for an overnight stay. For comfortable weather, late spring and early fall are the sweet spots. Typical averages from the nearby Superior, MT weather station show May highs around 71°F and September highs around 77°F, with July and August peaking near 88°F. Winter is cold, with January highs around 36°F. Nearby options include Trout Cr Cg, about 5.5 miles away, and Saint Patrick Peak, about 6.4 miles away. Trout Creek, a canoeing spot, is about 7.1 miles off, and the 9 Mile Divide Trail is about 7.6 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Apr–Jun, Sep–Oct

    Best time to visit Quartz Flat Nature

    Best months: April–June and September–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.

    1. Jan

      36° / 22°

      10 wet

    2. Feb

      42° / 22°

      9 wet

    3. Mar

      53° / 27°

      10 wet

    4. Apr

      61° / 32°

      10 wet

    5. May

      71° / 40°

      11 wet

    6. Jun

      78° / 46°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      88° / 51°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      88° / 49°

      5 wet

    9. Sep

      77° / 42°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      61° / 34°

      9 wet

    11. Nov

      43° / 27°

      12 wet

    12. Dec

      34° / 22°

      11 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Superior, MT, 9.7 mi away at 2,710 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.