Montana · Hiking · Bob Marshall Wilderness

Sun Butte Cutacross

2.5 mi
round trip
218 ft
climb
5,009 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Sun Butte Cutacross open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Rocky Mountain Ranger District.

As of · Source: USFS · Rocky Mountain Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Sun Butte Cutacross is a short, easy hike in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, part of the Rocky Mountain Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is about 2.5 miles long, with a one-way elevation gain of 218 feet, making it an out-and-back route that starts and ends at roughly the same point. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Gibson Dam weather station, which sits about 420 feet lower than the trail, show July highs around 79°F with lows near 45°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-30s. The trail is natural-surface and allows horses, and it is not accessible. Bikes are not allowed. Sun Butte is just 0.2 miles away, and Moose-Furman and Bear Creek are each about 0.7 miles off. For an overnight stay, Mortimer Gulch Campground is about 4.8 miles away.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Sun Butte Cutacross

    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.

    1. Jan

      36° / 12°

      5 wet

    2. Feb

      36° / 12°

      6 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 18°

      7 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 25°

      7 wet

    5. May

      59° / 33°

      10 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 39°

      10 wet

    7. Jul

      79° / 45°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 43°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 36°

      6 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 29°

      6 wet

    11. Nov

      42° / 20°

      5 wet

    12. Dec

      35° / 13°

      5 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Gibson Dam, MT, 5.7 mi away at 4,590 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.