Sauerkraut
- 4.1 mi
- round trip
- 1,078 ft
- climb
- 6,514 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Caution at last check
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 16 h ago
Is Sauerkraut open right now?
No closures listed
The Forest Service lists no closures for Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.
As of · Source: USFS · Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Sauerkraut is a 4.1-mile out-and-back hike in the Lincoln Ranger District of Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana, on Forest Service land. The route climbs about 1,078 feet from a low point of 5,436 feet to a high of 6,514 feet, and it is rated moderate. It works for hikers, riders and horseback travelers, with natural trail surface and both biking and horseback riding allowed. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the Elliston weather station, about 27 miles away at 5,080 feet, show July highs around 81°F and lows near 46°F, while the trail's higher elevation runs cooler. The open season runs from May 1 through November 30. The Clear Creek Connector is about 2.5 miles away, and Ogden Mountain and Dalton Mountain are within about 4 miles. Paddlers can find Nevada Creek roughly 4.3 miles off.
Local outfitters
- MTBCity39 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Sauerkraut
Best months: May–September. 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.
Jan
33° / 11°
Feb
33° / 12°
Mar
43° / 19°
Apr
51° / 26°
May
60° / 35°
Jun
69° / 41°
Jul
81° / 46°
Aug
80° / 44°
Sep
69° / 36°
Oct
53° / 27°
Nov
39° / 17°
Dec
31° / 10°
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Elliston, MT, 27.4 mi away at 5,080 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
Photo: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Mainline Trail
~30 min drive
18.32-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,549 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
CLEAR CREEK CONNECTOR
~4 min drive
1.86-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 508 ft gain and 6,571 ft max elevation.
HIKE
Dalton Mountain
~7 min drive
0.76-mile out-and-back trail at Dalton Mountain in Montana with 139 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Washington Gulch Trail
~15 min drive
4.38-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 863 ft elevation gain.
Photo: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)Lone Mountain Trail
~31 min drive
9.96-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 1,061 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Willow Creek
~5 min drive
2.18-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 377 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Theodore Creek
~16 min drive
3.68-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 548 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
High Roller
~15 min drive
12.23-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,011 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Baldy
~12 min drive
1.90-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 197 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Copper Camp
~24 min drive
3.12-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 964 ft elevation gain.
