Silcox-Headley
- 30.5 mi
- round trip
- 3,582 ft
- climb
- 7,317 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Silcox-Headley 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.
Silcox-Headley is a hard hike of about 30.5 miles on the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in western Montana, managed by the Forest Service. It is an out-and-back route with a one-way elevation gain of 3,582 feet, reaching a high point of 7,317 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar latitude show July and August highs around 70°F with only about six wet days a month, while winter highs stay near freezing. Bikes and horses are both allowed on the natural-surface trail. Several other trails start close by, including Sqaylth-Kwum Creek and the T. Falls Fitness West Loop. For an overnight stay, Copper King Campground is about 7 miles away.
Best time to go · Jul–Sep
Best time to visit Silcox-Headley
Best months: 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.
Jan
28° / 19°
19 wet
Feb
28° / 19°
17 wet
Mar
34° / 22°
19 wet
Apr
40° / 27°
17 wet
May
50° / 36°
15 wet
Jun
58° / 42°
13 wet
Jul
70° / 52°
6 wet
Aug
69° / 51°
6 wet
Sep
59° / 44°
8 wet
Oct
44° / 32°
13 wet
Nov
32° / 23°
17 wet
Dec
27° / 18°
18 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mullan Pass Vor/Dme, ID, 18.6 mi away at 6,028 ft. The station sits about 1,300 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: Robert Ashworth from Bellingham, WA., USA, CC BY 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)Ashley Creek
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T. Falls Fitness West Loop
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Thompson Falls Fitness Trail
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KOO KOO SINT RIDGE
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Sqaylth-Kwum Creek
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15.14-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 4,922 ft elevation gain and loss.
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12.86-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,442 ft elevation gain.
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Arrowhead Lake
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