Montana · Hiking

Thompson Hellgate

5.8 mi
round trip
2,884 ft
climb
6,498 ft
high point
Out and back
route
May–Sep
best months

Is Thompson Hellgate open right now?

No closures listed

The Forest Service lists no closures for Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Thompson Hellgate is a moderate out-and-back hike of about 5.8 miles in the Townsend Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest in Montana. The route rises from a low point of about 5,300 feet to a high point of about 6,500 feet, with a total elevation gain of roughly 2,884 feet for the full trip. That makes it a climb of about 1,442 feet one way. The trail is natural surfaced and open to both bikes and horses, which gives riders and pack animals a way to make the trip. The Forest Service manages the land, and the route stays open year-round, with an estimated time of about 3.5 hours. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July and August highs reach about 78°F with lows near 47°F, based on averages from a nearby weather station in Adel. That station sits well below the trail, so temperatures on the high point run cooler. Hunters Gulch Connection lies just under a mile away, and Cayuse and Carpenter are each about 2.5 miles off. West Big Belts Gfa - Magpie Creek Cua offers camping about 3.3 miles from the trail.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · May–Sep

    Best time to visit Thompson Hellgate

    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° / 14°

    2. Feb

      37° / 14°

    3. Mar

      43° / 21°

    4. Apr

      50° / 27°

    5. May

      58° / 35°

    6. Jun

      67° / 42°

    7. Jul

      78° / 47°

    8. Aug

      78° / 46°

    9. Sep

      68° / 39°

    10. Oct

      53° / 31°

    11. Nov

      42° / 23°

    12. Dec

      33° / 15°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Adel, MT, 20.7 mi away at 5,017 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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.