The route upSheep Mountain · 10,095 ft
Montana · Hiking

Sky Rim Trail

10.28-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,235 ft elevation gain

10.3 mi
round trip
7,871 ft
climb
10,094 ft
high point
Out and back
route

Is Sky Rim Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name Sky Rim Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Sky Rim Trail is a 10.3-mile hike in the Gardiner Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. It is an out-and-back route that climbs from about 9,266 feet to a high point of 10,094 feet, with a total elevation gain of 7,871 feet over the round trip. The trail is rated expert, and the climb is steep, with the most significant gain coming in the second half of the route. The trail starts at a base elevation of about 9,266 feet and reaches a high point of about 10,094 feet. The total round-trip distance is about 20.6 miles, and the route drops back to the starting point after the climb. Nearby, the Sunlight hike is about a mile away, and the Tom Miner Divide South mountain biking route is about 1.6 miles off. Tom Miner Campground is about 2.2 miles away, and the Big Sky Grit climbing area is about 5.8 miles away.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

SunlightPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Sunlight

~2 min drive

3.74-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 821 ft of elevation gain.

Buffalo Horn PassPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Buffalo Horn Pass

~4 min drive

4.56-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,417 ft elevation gain.

Dailey Creek Trailhead (WK1)Photo: hesyifei, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Dailey Creek Trailhead (WK1)

~8 min drive

This trailhead along Highway 191 in the western part of the park provides access to one trail: Dailey Creek Trail Dailey Creek Trail A strenuous 10-mile (16-km) there-and-back trail that starts near Dailey Creek and heads up to Dailey Pass, where you can reach the Sky Rim T…

Specimen Creek TrailPhoto: isydia Vibes, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Specimen Creek Trail

~11 min drive

8.62-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 2,935 ft elevation gain.

Black Butte Trail

~6 min drive

5.86-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 399 ft gain and 3,402 ft loss.

RAMSHORN LAKEPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

RAMSHORN LAKE

~5 min drive

1.12-mile out-and-back trail to Ramhorn Lake in Montana with 213 ft of elevation gain.

Tom Miner Divide TrailPhoto: Greg Willis from Denver, CO, usa, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Tom Miner Divide Trail

~4 min drive

3.54-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,782 ft of elevation gain

Black Butte Trailhead (WK2)Photo: hesyifei, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Black Butte Trailhead (WK2)

~8 min drive

The Black Butte trailhead is on the northwest side of Yellowstone near US Highway 191. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trail: Black Butte Trail Black Butte Trail This is a strenuous 11.4-miles (18.3 km) there-and-back trail that climbs 3,100 feet (945 m…

Elk HornPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Elk Horn

~14 min drive

9.64-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,272 ft gain.

Petrified Interpretive

~4 min drive

1.62-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 593 ft gain

Route details

Distance
10.3 mi round trip
Climbing
About 7,871 ft
Summit
10,095 ft
Difficulty
Expert
Time
About 4.5 hours

Questions about this route

How long is the Sky Rim Trail on Sheep Mountain?

About 10.3 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Sky Rim Trail?

About 7,871 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Sky Rim Trail?

It is rated expert.

How long does the Sky Rim Trail take?

About 4.5 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.

Local businesses nearby

Outfitters and businesses. They haven’t set up their Roamze page yet.

Yellowstone Safari Company

Hiking business nearby (~41 mi away) — hasn't claimed their Roamze page yet

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