Fr132-31
Campground
Campground · 0.2 mi from the trail
Montana · Hiking · Near Emigrant
Storm Castle Mtn
Photo: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- 4.5 mi
- round trip
- 3,075 ft
- climb
- 7,313 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Storm Castle Mtn open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Bozeman Ranger District. It doesn't name Storm Castle Mtn, so check the source for the area it covers (16 listed).
Sourdough/Bozeman Creek Trailhead and Trail Closure
Agency closure covering Bozeman Ranger District · Order 01-11-06-27-02 · USFS · Bozeman Ranger District
NFSR #1700 South Plateau Road Closure
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Storm Castle Creek Trail #185 Temporarily Closed Due to Storm Damage
Agency closure covering Bozeman Ranger District · Order 01-11-06-26-07 · USFS · Bozeman Ranger District
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Summer Interim Travel Order and Map and Order # 01-11-00-26-02
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-00-26-02 · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Winter Interim Travel Order and Map Order Number: #01-11-00-26-01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Bozeman Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Storm Castle Mtn is a 4.5-mile out-and-back hike on natural-surface trails in the Bozeman Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is rated moderate with a total elevation gain of 3,075 feet, from a low point of about 5,400 feet to a high of about 7,300 feet. The trail is open to both horses and bikes. For timing, late summer is the most comfortable stretch. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Big Sky show July highs around 78°F and lows near 41°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s and 30s. The Stormcastle climbing area sits just 0.3 miles away, and Hantavirus Cave is 0.7 miles off. Spire Rock campground is about a mile away, and the Gallatin River offers fishing roughly 2 miles from the trail.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after If it rains
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in EmigrantLocal outfitters
- Yellowstone Safari Company20 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- StormcastleRock climbing0.3 mi
- Hantavirus CaveRock climbing0.7 mi
- Spire RockCamping1.1 mi
- Wilson Creek Divide RoadMountain biking1.3 mi
Indian RidgeHikingPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)1.4 mi- Garnet Mountain Fire LookoutCamping1.5 mi
- Gallatin RiverRiver fishing1.9 mi
- Spanish CreekCanoeing5 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Indian RidgeHiking · ~2 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- Sheep RockHiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
Pioneer Lakes TrailHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)- North Fork HellroaringHiking · ~8 min drive
- Hellroaring CreekHiking · ~4 min drive
- GARNET MOUNTAINHiking · ~4 min drivePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
- LIME CREEKHiking · ~4 min drive
- South Fork Swan Creek TrailHiking · ~15 min drive
- WILSON CREEKHiking · ~7 min drive
- Rat Lake AccessibleHiking · ~5 min drive
Best time to visit Storm Castle Mtn
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
30° / 9°
13 wet
Feb
34° / 9°
11 wet
Mar
42° / 17°
12 wet
Apr
48° / 23°
11 wet
May
58° / 30°
14 wet
Jun
67° / 36°
14 wet
Jul
78° / 41°
11 wet
Aug
77° / 39°
11 wet
Sep
68° / 33°
10 wet
Oct
53° / 25°
10 wet
Nov
37° / 16°
11 wet
Dec
27° / 9°
14 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Sky 2wnw, MT, 12.5 mi away at 6,590 ft. The station sits about 700 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.
Route details
- Distance
- 4.5 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 3,075 ft
- Starts at
- GARNET MOUNTAIN /STORM CASTLE (about 5,928 ft)
- Summit
- 7,326 ft
- Difficulty
- Moderate
- Time
- About 3 hours
Getting there
Park at GARNET MOUNTAIN /STORM CASTLE.
Season
Season: Year-round.
Questions about this route
How long is the Storm Castle Mtn on Storm Castle?
About 4.5 mi round trip from GARNET MOUNTAIN /STORM CASTLE (about 5,928 ft).
How much elevation gain is on the Storm Castle Mtn?
About 3,075 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Storm Castle Mtn?
It is rated moderate.
Where does the Storm Castle Mtn start?
GARNET MOUNTAIN /STORM CASTLE (about 5,928 ft).
How long does the Storm Castle Mtn take?
About 3 hours round trip.
When is the best time for the Storm Castle Mtn?
Year-round.
Conditions and forecast on Storm Castle
Caution todayAgency alerts are in effect for this areaUSFS · checked 11 h ago
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.
