Montana · Hiking

Sheep Mountain

Sheep MountainPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
28.3 mi
round trip
3,314 ft
climb
7,617 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Sheep Mountain 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.

Sheep Mountain is a hard hike in the Missoula Ranger District of Montana's Lolo National Forest. The out-and-back route climbs from about 3,780 feet to roughly 7,617 feet, a total gain of 3,314 feet over about 28 miles. The trail is on natural surface, and the Forest Service manages the land. The trip starts at the Woods Gulch Trailhead, where parking is labeled "WOODS GULCH TRAILHEAD." The trail is open from about June 1 to November 15. Bikes and horses are allowed. The trailhead sits right beside the Rattlesnake Trailhead network, where the Sidewinder and Three Larch mountain biking routes are about half a mile away. Rattlesnake Creek is a hike a little farther out, and Pattee Canyon Picnic Area is about 8 miles away.

Local outfitters

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

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

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

Rattlesnake Creek

~1 min drive

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

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.

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

Spring Gulch

~2 min drive

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

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

Stuart Peak

~2 min drive

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

Sawmill Gulch Wooten RanchPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Sawmill Gulch Wooten Ranch

~1 min drive

2.68-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 324 ft gain.

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

Three Larches

~2 min drive

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

HIKE

Wallman

~5 min drive

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

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.

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

SAWMILL GULCH CUTOFF D

~4 min drive

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

HIKE

Sawmill Gulch (Rattlesnake)

~4 min drive

8.76-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,466 ft elevation gain.

Route details

Distance
28.3 mi round trip
Climbing
About 3,314 ft
Starts at
Woods Gulch Trailhead (about 3,779 ft)
Summit
7,646 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 11 hours

Getting there

Park at WOODS GULCH TRAILHEAD.

Questions about this route

How long is the Sheep Mountain on Sheep Mountain?

About 28.3 mi round trip from Woods Gulch Trailhead (about 3,779 ft).

How much elevation gain is on the Sheep Mountain?

About 3,314 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Sheep Mountain?

It is rated hard.

Where does the Sheep Mountain start?

Woods Gulch Trailhead (about 3,779 ft).

How long does the Sheep Mountain take?

About 11 hours round trip.

Conditions and forecast on Sheep 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.