Montana · Hiking · Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Telephone Basin

18.0 mi
round trip
2,185 ft
climb
9,687 ft
high point
Out and back
route

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 hard hike in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, part of the Gardiner Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from about 6,644 feet to 9,687 feet, a total gain of 2,185 feet over 18 miles. The trail is on natural surface and allows horses, but not bikes. It is open year-round, and the Forest Service manages the land. Several other routes sit close by. Horse Creek Trail is about 0.7 miles away and Brundage Creek about 0.9 miles. Low Specimen is about 1.1 miles off, and Bear Creek campground is roughly 9.7 miles away.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

HIKE

Coyote Creek Trailhead (2N1)

~5 min drive

This is a remote trailhead at the northern boundary of the park that is not accessible by road. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trail within the park: Coyote Creek Trail

Telephone BasinPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Telephone Basin

~11 min drive

4.46-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 625 ft elevation gain.

2H1 Campsite Spur TrailPhoto: inkknife_2000 (7.5 million views +), CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

2H1 Campsite Spur Trail

~13 min drive

Quick out-and-back spur to 2H1 Campsite in Wyoming backcountry.

Buffalo ForkPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Buffalo Fork

~13 min drive

24.95-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,152 ft gain.

HIKE

Coyote Creek Trail

~10 min drive

Accessible out-and-back creek hike in Wyoming with scenic water features.

HIKE

Upper Hellroaring Trailhead (2N5)

~6 min drive

This is a remote trailhead at the northern boundary of the park that is not accessible by road. From this trailhead, you can embark on the following trail within the park: Hellroaring Creek Trail

Hidden LakePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Hidden Lake

~12 min drive

4.02-mile out-and-back trail to Hidden Lake in Montana with 103 ft of elevation gain.

HIKE

Low Specimen

~2 min drive

0.46-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 133 ft elevation gain.

HIKE

Brundage Creek

~1 min drive

9.31-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 938 ft gain

HIKE

Buffalo Plateau Trail

~10 min drive

Out-and-back plateau hike with steady climbing and high-country views.