Montana · Hiking

Sawmill Gulch Wooten Ranch

Sawmill Gulch Wooten RanchPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
2.7 mi
round trip
324 ft
climb
3,920 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Oct
best months

Is Sawmill Gulch Wooten Ranch 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 Wooten Ranch is an easy out-and-back hike in the Missoula Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in western Montana, about 2.7 miles long with a 324-foot elevation gain from a low of 3,598 feet to a high of 3,920 feet. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and sits on natural surface, and it is open year-round at the Sawmill Gulch Trailhead parking. The route works well for hikers, riders and horseback travelers. Bikes and horses are both allowed, so the trail is a practical choice for anyone arriving on foot, on a bike or on horseback. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Missoula show July and August highs around 84 to 85°F with lows near 50°F and only about seven wet days a month. That station sits roughly 500 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the ridge run a little cooler. Several other trails start close by. Rattlesnake Creek is about 0.1 mile away, Stuart Peak is about 0.3 mile away, and Spring Gulch is about 0.5 mile away. For an overnight stay, Pattee Canyon Picnic Area is about 8 miles off.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jul–Oct

    Best time to visit Sawmill Gulch Wooten Ranch

    Best months: July–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

      34° / 20°

      14 wet · 10 snow

    2. Feb

      39° / 22°

      11 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      49° / 27°

      13 wet · 6 snow

    4. Apr

      57° / 33°

      12 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      67° / 41°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      73° / 47°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 52°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 51°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 44°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 34°

      10 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      41° / 26°

      12 wet · 6 snow

    12. Dec

      33° / 20°

      14 wet · 10 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Missoula 2 Ne, MT, 2 mi away at 3,420 ft. The station sits about 500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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

Rattlesnake Creek

Next door

28.25-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,641 ft of elevation gain.

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

Spring Gulch

Next door

3.64-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 450 ft elevation gain.

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

RATTLESNAKE CREEK CUTOFF A

~1 min drive

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

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

Stuart Peak

Next door

26.06-mile out-and-back trail to Stuart Peak in Montana with 7,461 ft of elevation gain.

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

SAWMILL GULCH CUTOFF D

~3 min drive

2.36-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,250 ft gain/loss and max elevation 4,810 ft.

Missoula RattlesnakePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Missoula Rattlesnake

~1 min drive

1.30-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 57 ft of elevation gain.

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

Sheep Mountain

~1 min drive

28.25-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 3,314 ft elevation gain.

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

Three Larches

~3 min drive

4.38-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 508 ft elevation gain.

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

SAWMILL GULCH CUTOFF F

~3 min drive

1.12-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 289 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Wallman

~4 min drive

6.60-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 577 ft elevation gain.