Montana · Hiking

Sawmill Gulch (Rattlesnake)

8.8 mi
round trip
1,466 ft
climb
5,479 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May, Jul–Sep
best months

Is Sawmill Gulch (Rattlesnake) 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.

Sawmill Gulch (Rattlesnake) is a hard hike in the Missoula Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in western Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The route is an out-and-back of about 8.8 miles, with a one-way climb of roughly 1,466 feet from a low point of about 3,974 feet to a high of about 5,479 feet. The trail is natural-surfaced and allows both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. Several cutoffs sit within a few tenths of a mile, including Sawmill Gulch Cutoff C and Sawmill Gulch Cutoff E, and the Turkey Trail mountain biking route is about 0.4 miles away. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Seeley Lake, which sits about 1,379 feet lower than the trail's high point, show July and August highs around 83°F with lows in the low 40s and the fewest wet days of the year. Winter is cold, with January highs near freezing. Pattee Canyon Picnic Area, about 8 miles away, is the closest campground.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May, Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Sawmill Gulch (Rattlesnake)

    Best months: May and July–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.

    1. Jan

      32° / 12°

      15 wet

    2. Feb

      37° / 13°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      45° / 20°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      54° / 27°

      11 wet

    5. May

      65° / 34°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      72° / 41°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      83° / 44°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      83° / 43°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 36°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 29°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      40° / 21°

      14 wet

    12. Dec

      31° / 13°

      16 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Seeley Lake Rs, MT, 29 mi away at 4,100 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

SAWMILL GULCH CUTOFF FPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

SAWMILL GULCH CUTOFF F

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SAWMILL GULCH CUTOFF DPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

SAWMILL GULCH CUTOFF D

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Stuart PeakPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Curry CutoffPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Spring GulchPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Rattlesnake CreekPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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SAWMILL GULCH CUTOFF APhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

SAWMILL GULCH CUTOFF A

~1 min drive

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Three LarchesPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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~5 min drive

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Sheep MountainPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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~4 min drive

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RATTLESNAKE CREEK CUTOFF APhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

RATTLESNAKE CREEK CUTOFF A

~2 min drive

1.94-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 379 ft gain/loss.