Montana · Hiking

Thompson Creek

22.0 mi
round trip
2,008 ft
climb
6,715 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Thompson Creek open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Lolo National Forest.

  • East Fork Big Creek Road & Trail Closure- Superior Ranger District

    Agency alert covering Lolo National Forest · Order 26-003- · USFS · Lolo National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Lolo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Thompson Creek is a hard hike in Montana's Lolo National Forest, within the Superior Ranger District. The trail is about 22 miles long, an out-and-back route with a total elevation gain of about 2,000 feet, starting at a low point around 3,415 feet and climbing to a high point near 6,715 feet. The Forest Service manages the land. The trail is a natural-surface route, and it allows both horses and bikes, so it works for riders and pack animals as well as hikers. The climb is the defining challenge here. The route is rated hard, and with that length and gain, it is a full-day affair. July and August are the most comfortable months to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at a similar elevation show July highs around 70°F with lows near 52°F and only about six wet days a month, while winter highs stay in the upper 20s. That station sits about 687 feet lower than the trail's high point, so temperatures on the summit run cooler. The trail is open year-round. Thompson Peak Lookout Tower is about 2.3 miles away, and Cedar Creek Driveway is about 1.1 miles off. Sloway Campground and Trout Cr Campground lie within about 5.5 miles.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Thompson Creek

    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.

    1. Jan

      28° / 19°

      19 wet

    2. Feb

      28° / 19°

      17 wet

    3. Mar

      34° / 22°

      19 wet

    4. Apr

      40° / 27°

      17 wet

    5. May

      50° / 36°

      15 wet

    6. Jun

      58° / 42°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      70° / 52°

      6 wet

    8. Aug

      69° / 51°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      59° / 44°

      8 wet

    10. Oct

      44° / 32°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      32° / 23°

      17 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / 18°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mullan Pass Vor/Dme, ID, 37.9 mi away at 6,028 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
22.0 mi round trip
Climbing
About 2,008 ft
Summit
6,726 ft
Difficulty
Hard
Time
About 8.5 hours

Season

Season: Year-round.

Questions about this route

How long is the Thompson Creek on Sheep Mountain?

About 22.0 mi round trip.

How much elevation gain is on the Thompson Creek?

About 2,008 ft of climbing round trip.

How hard is the Thompson Creek?

It is rated hard.

How long does the Thompson Creek take?

About 8.5 hours round trip.

When is the best time for the Thompson Creek?

Year-round.

Conditions and forecast on Sheep Mountain

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.