Rainbow
- 9.1 mi
- round trip
- 1,890 ft
- climb
- 7,519 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 Rainbow open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Kootenai National Forest. It doesn't name Rainbow, so check the source for the area it covers.
Kootenai Flood Event & Inaccessible Areas
Agency closure covering Kootenai National Forest · USFS · Kootenai National Forest
Updated Skillet Fire Area, Road, Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Kootenai National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Kootenai National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Kootenai National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Rainbow is a hard hike on natural surface in the Fortine Ranger District of Montana's Kootenai National Forest. The route is an out-and-back of about 9 miles, with a total elevation gain of about 1,890 feet. It starts and ends at Rainbow TH 89, a trailhead that stays open year-round. The trail is open to both horses and bikes, so riders and pack animals can join the climb. The low point sits at about 5,968 feet, and the high point reaches about 7,519 feet. Wolverine Lakes is the closest neighbor, less than a mile away. Clarence Ness and David Nesbitt are both within about 2 miles. Little Therriault Lake campground is about 2.7 miles off.
Local outfitters
- Indian Springs Montana9 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Wolverine Lakes
~1 min drive
3-mile loop trail in Montana with 1,069 ft elevation gain.
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Clarence Ness
~3 min drive
6.60-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 895 ft gain.
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David Nesbitt
~4 min drive
2.36-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 511 ft elevation gain.
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Bluebird
~5 min drive
5.50-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,063 ft elevation gain.
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Clarence
~7 min drive
10-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 997 ft elevation gain.
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Horse Camp/highline
~5 min drive
1.24-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 74 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Stahl Creek
~9 min drive
4.00-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 673 ft gain
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Foundation
~7 min drive
6.58-mile loop trail in Montana with 1,244 ft gain.
HIKE
Little Therriault Lake Loop
~5 min drive
0.89-mile loop around Little Therriault Lake in Montana
HIKE
Therriault Pass
~9 min drive
4.01-mile out-and-back trail at Therriault Pass in Montana with 1,572 ft of elevation gain.
