Tillson - Shale
- 15.6 mi
- round trip
- 3,417 ft
- climb
- 8,066 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
Is Tillson - Shale open right now?
Alert in the area
The Forest Service lists 5 alerts for Flathead National Forest.
Camp Creek Fire Updated Trail Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
FK&L Area Closed to Public Access Starting July 22, 2026
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Trail 800 Tally-Ashely Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Ryan Creek Occupancy and Use Order
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 1-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
Logan Creek Hoke Creek Closure
Agency alert covering Flathead National Forest · Order 01-10- · USFS · Flathead National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Flathead National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
Tillson - Shale is a hard hike in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, part of the Spotted Bear Ranger District of Flathead National Forest in northwest Montana. The route is an out-and-back that climbs from about 4,645 feet to 8,066 feet, with a total elevation gain of 3,417 feet over a distance of about 15.6 miles. The Forest Service manages the land, and the trail is natural-surfaced and accessible only to hikers and horses. The trail is not accessible, and bikes are not allowed. It is open year-round, and the surrounding wilderness makes it a destination for those planning a longer trip into the backcountry. Several other hikes sit close by. East Side South Fork is about 0.1 mile away, Sandstone Creek is about half a mile off, and Brownstone Creek and Butcher Mtn. are each within about a mile and a half.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
HIKE
Brownstone Creek
~2 min drive
4.71-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,445 ft gain.
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Butcher Mtn.
~3 min drive
13.60-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,446 ft gain
HIKE
Wire Ford
~5 min drive
Wire Ford is a 1.08-mile out-and-back trail in Montana.
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Rampart Mtn.
~8 min drive
3.76-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,152 ft elevation gain.
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Una Mtn.
~3 min drive
7.88-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,237 ft elevation gain.
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Tillson Peak
~6 min drive
1.42-mile out-and-back trail to Tillson Peak in Montana with 618 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Haystack Mtn.
~10 min drive
7.12-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,704 ft gain.
HIKE
Bartlett
~3 min drive
20.14-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,781 ft of elevation gain.
HIKE
Holbrook Ford
~8 min drive
1.90-mile out-and-back trail to Holbrook Ford in Montana with 28 ft of elevation gain.
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S.Fk. White River
~10 min drive
4.99-mile out-and-back trail on S.Fk. White River in Montana.
Route details
- Distance
- 15.6 mi round trip
- Climbing
- About 3,417 ft
- Summit
- 8,091 ft
- Difficulty
- Hard
- Time
- About 7 hours
Season
Season: Year-round.
Questions about this route
How long is the Tillson - Shale on Shale Peak?
About 15.6 mi round trip.
How much elevation gain is on the Tillson - Shale?
About 3,417 ft of climbing round trip.
How hard is the Tillson - Shale?
It is rated hard.
How long does the Tillson - Shale take?
About 7 hours round trip.
When is the best time for the Tillson - Shale?
Year-round.
Conditions and forecast on Shale Peak
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.
