Montana · Hiking · Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Telephone Basin

Telephone BasinPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)
4.5 mi
round trip
2,932 ft
climb
8,886 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Aug
best months

Is Telephone Basin open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name Telephone Basin, 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.

Telephone Basin is a moderate hike in Montana's Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, on the Gardiner Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest. The trail is about 4.5 miles long and makes an out-and-back trip from a low point of 7,720 feet to a high point of 8,886 feet, with a total elevation gain of about 2,932 feet. The steepest stretch comes near the start, where the grade reaches 27%. The trail is on natural surface and is open to horses. Bikes are not allowed. The nearest town is Gardiner, and the trail lies within Forest Service land. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Cooke City, which sits roughly 1,400 feet lower, show July highs around 74°F and lows near 39°F. Winters are cold, with January highs around 24°F. The hike takes about three hours to complete. Other routes close by include Hidden Lake and Buffalo Fork, each about a mile away, and Bull Creek at about 2.5 miles.