Skyline 3
- 1.1 mi
- round trip
- 113 ft
- climb
- 5,258 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Skyline 3 open right now?
No closures listed
The Forest Service lists no closures for Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.
As of · Source: USFS · Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Skyline 3 is an easy, short hike in the Helena Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana. It is a one-way trail that turns back on itself, covering about a mile with a climb of 113 feet from its low point at 5,154 feet to a high of 5,258 feet. The route sits at about 5,200 feet, and the trail is natural-surfaced, which makes it a simple walk for anyone who wants a short outing on the ground rather than on a developed path. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July and August highs reach about 78°F with lows near 50°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station in Austin. The station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the hike run slightly cooler. The trail is open year-round. Bikes are allowed, but the route is not accessible. Skyline 2 and Skyline 1 both lie within a mile, and Skelly Gulch is about 3.6 miles away. For an overnight stay, Moose Creek Campground is roughly 9 miles off.
Local outfitters
- MTBCity10 mi away
- Copper Court RV Park48 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Skyline 2Hiking0.5 mi
- Skyline 1Hiking0.6 mi
- Skelly GulchHiking3.6 mi
- South ButtressRock climbing4 mi
- La CantinaRock climbing4 mi
- The Landing ZoneRock climbing4 mi
- Tenmile CreekCanoeing8.3 mi
- Moose Creek CampgroundCamping8.9 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Le Grande Cannon TrailHiking · ~18 min drivePhoto: ericmerrill, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Old Chevy TrailHiking · ~18 min drivePhoto: ericmerrill, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Switchback RidgeHiking · ~14 min drive
- Diretissima TrailHiking · ~19 min drivePhoto: ericmerrill, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
West Ridge TrailHiking · ~18 min drivePhoto: ericmerrill, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Clarks CanyonHiking · ~13 min drive
- Prairie TrailHiking · ~19 min drivePhoto: ericmerrill, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- West End TrailHiking · ~19 min drivePhoto: ericmerrill, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
- Moose Ridge TrailHiking · ~19 min drive
- Skelly GulchHiking · ~6 min drive
Best time to visit Skyline 3
Best months: May–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
30° / 12°
6 wet
Feb
32° / 13°
6 wet
Mar
41° / 19°
7 wet
Apr
50° / 26°
8 wet
May
60° / 35°
9 wet
Jun
68° / 42°
9 wet
Jul
78° / 49°
6 wet
Aug
78° / 47°
6 wet
Sep
67° / 39°
6 wet
Oct
51° / 30°
6 wet
Nov
37° / 19°
6 wet
Dec
29° / 13°
6 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Austin 1 W, MT, 0.9 mi away at 4,851 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
