Smith River
- 5.2 mi
- round trip
- 5 ft
- climb
- 5,250 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jun–Sep
- best months
Caution today
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 48 min ago
Is Smith River 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.
The Smith River hike is a 5.2-mile out-and-back trail in the Belt Creek-White Sulphur Springs Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated moderate. The route starts at about 3,873 feet and climbs to about 5,250 feet. The climb is one way, and the trail is natural-surfaced. Bikes and horses are both allowed, and the trail is not accessible. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 80°F with lows in the mid-40s, while winter highs stay near freezing. Nearby hikes include Temple Gulch, Bear Gulch and Parker Ridge, all within about 2 miles. Monument Peak Lookout campground is about 7.5 miles away.
Local outfitters
- MTBCity49 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Temple GulchHiking1.9 mi
- Bear GulchHiking2 mi
- Parker RidgeHiking2.2 mi
- Double GulchHiking3.2 mi
- Strawberry RidgeHiking3.2 mi
- Old BaldyHiking3.3 mi
- Cow CouleeHiking3.7 mi
- Monument Peak LookoutCamping7.5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
Grouse Ridge DivideHiking · ~43 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)- Bear GulchHiking · ~3 min drive
- Parker RidgeHiking · ~4 min drive
- Figure 8 Loop NRTHiking · ~15 min drive
- Strawberry RidgeHiking · ~6 min drive
- Double GulchHiking · ~5 min drive
- Tenderfoot Falls OverlookHiking · ~13 min drive
- Old BaldyHiking · ~6 min drive
- S FK DEEP CREEKHiking · ~11 min drive
- MONUMENT RIDGEHiking · ~13 min drive
Best time to visit Smith River
Best months: June–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
33° / 11°
8 wet
Feb
35° / 12°
7 wet
Mar
44° / 20°
9 wet
Apr
52° / 26°
11 wet
May
61° / 34°
13 wet
Jun
70° / 41°
12 wet
Jul
80° / 46°
9 wet
Aug
80° / 45°
7 wet
Sep
69° / 37°
6 wet
Oct
54° / 28°
7 wet
Nov
41° / 18°
7 wet
Dec
32° / 11°
7 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Millegan 14 Se, MT, 12.1 mi away at 4,970 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
