Red Plume
Photo: Sam Beebe, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- 9.3 mi
- round trip
- 3,323 ft
- climb
- 7,945 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Red Plume open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Flathead National Forest.
Camp Creek Fire Updated Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
FK&L Area Closed to Public Access Starting July 22, 2026
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Trail 800 Tally-Ashely Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Ryan Creek Occupancy and Use Order
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 1-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Logan Creek Hoke Creek Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Flathead National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Red Plume is a hard hike in Montana's Great Bear Wilderness, part of the Spotted Bear Ranger District of the Flathead National Forest. The trail is an out-and-back that climbs from about 4,625 feet to 7,945 feet, a total gain of 3,323 feet over roughly 9.3 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route is natural-surface, with horses allowed and bikes not. The trail is not accessible. It is open year-round, and Miner Creek lies just 0.1 mile away, Bradley Lake about 1.5 miles, and Lodgepole Mtn. about 1.9 miles. For an overnight base, Challenge Cabin is about 8 miles off.
Local outfitters
- North American RV Park & Yurt Village40 mi away
- Rocky Mountain Outfitter47 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Route details
- Distance
- 9.3 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 3,323 ft
- Summit
- 7,953 ft
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Time
- About 5 hours
Season
Season: Year-round.
Questions about this route
How long is the Red Plume on Red Plume Mountain?
About 9.3 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Red Plume?
About 3,323 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Red Plume?
It is rated hard.
How long does the Red Plume take?
About 5 hours round trip.
When is the best time for the Red Plume?
Year-round.
Conditions and forecast on Red Plume Mountain
Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.
