Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake
- 10.6 mi
- round trip
- 1,832 ft
- climb
- 7,484 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Aug
- best months
Is Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Bitterroot National Forest.
Pile burning on West Fork Ranger and Darby-Sula Districts Nov. 3
Agency alert covering Bitterroot National Forest · USFS · Bitterroot National Forest
Two Prescribed Burns Planned for the week of Oct. 5 - Piquett Creek & Cameron Gap
Agency alert covering Bitterroot National Forest · USFS · Bitterroot National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Bitterroot National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake is a moderate out-and-back hike in the Darby Ranger District of Montana's Bitterroot National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. The route runs about 10.6 miles, with a total elevation gain of 1,832 feet, from a low point of 5,242 feet to a high of 7,484 feet. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Wisdom weather station, which sits about 1,400 feet lower, show July highs around 78°F with lows near 38°F, and September highs around 68°F. Winter is cold, with January highs near 26°F. Several other trails start close by, including Snow Trail 75 about a mile away and Weasel Creek at 1.5 miles. Black Bear Campground is about 5 miles off, and Skalkaho Creek, a canoeing route, is about 7.5 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Copper Court RV Park44 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jun–Aug
Best time to visit Skalkaho Creek-Jerry Lake
Best months: June–August. 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
26° / 3°
8 wet
Feb
29° / 3°
8 wet
Mar
39° / 12°
8 wet
Apr
49° / 21°
9 wet
May
59° / 28°
12 wet
Jun
67° / 35°
11 wet
Jul
78° / 38°
8 wet
Aug
77° / 34°
7 wet
Sep
68° / 28°
7 wet
Oct
53° / 21°
8 wet
Nov
36° / 10°
9 wet
Dec
25° / 3°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Wisdom, MT, 39.5 mi away at 6,060 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
HIKE
SNOW TRAIL 75
~2 min drive
30.58-mile point-to-point trail in Montana with 2,899 ft gain and 7,489 ft max elevation.
HIKE
Weasel Creek
~3 min drive
6.40-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,902 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Skalkaho-Sleeping Child Divide
~5 min drive
6.25-mile out-and-back trail with 891 ft gain in Montana
HIKE
DALY CREEK
~7 min drive
1.26-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 433 ft elevation gain
HIKE
WEASEL CREEK
~3 min drive
4.92-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 5,021 ft elevation gain and loss.
HIKE
Railroad Creek
~5 min drive
8.01-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,962 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
Cross Country
~6 min drive
3.35-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 367 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
DALY CREEK
~7 min drive
1.5-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 762 ft elevation gain
HIKE
Black Bear Point
~8 min drive
7.39-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,632 ft elevation gain.
HIKE
DALY CREEK
~7 min drive
6.72-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,299 ft elevation gain
