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Montana · Hiking · Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness · Near Emigrant
West Fork Hellroaring
- 1.2 mi
- round trip
- 24 ft
- climb
- 7,310 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Aug
- best months
Caution at last check
Agency alerts are in effect for this area; weather is good · USFS, OpenWeather · checked 18 h ago
Is West Fork Hellroaring open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name West Fork Hellroaring, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).
NFSR #1700 South Plateau Road Closure
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Tom Miner Campground Closure
Agency closure covering Gardiner Ranger District · Order 01-11-03-26-02 · USFS · Gardiner Ranger District
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Summer Interim Travel Order and Map and Order # 01-11-00-26-02
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-00-26-02 · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Winter Interim Travel Order and Map Order Number: #01-11-00-26-01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Glacier Lake Road #2421 Closure Order Number: # 01-11-82-26- 01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-82-26- · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
West Fork Hellroaring is a short, easy out-and-back hike in Montana's Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, within the Gardiner Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and covers about 1.2 miles, with a low point of 7,262 feet and a high of 7,310 feet, so the climb is just 24 feet of elevation gain. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Cooke City show July highs around 74°F with lows near 39°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s. The Silver Creek hike starts just 0.1 mile away, and the Middle Fork Hellroaring mountain biking route is about 0.8 mile off. Hyman Creek Trail is roughly a mile away, and the Ladyfingers Buttress climbing area lies about 10 miles out.
Around this trail
Add any of these when you start a tripSleep close Eat after Iron Horse Bar & Grill
Restaurant
Open after 6
Places © OpenStreetMap contributors
More in EmigrantLocal outfitters
- Yellowstone Safari Company49 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · Jul–Aug
Best time to visit West Fork Hellroaring
Best months: July–August. 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.
Jan
24° / 6°
17 wet
Feb
29° / 7°
13 wet
Mar
37° / 14°
13 wet
Apr
43° / 21°
13 wet
May
54° / 28°
14 wet
Jun
64° / 34°
14 wet
Jul
74° / 39°
11 wet
Aug
71° / 38°
11 wet
Sep
62° / 31°
10 wet
Oct
47° / 24°
11 wet
Nov
31° / 13°
14 wet
Dec
22° / 6°
17 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cooke City 2 W, MT, 21.8 mi away at 7,483 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive
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Silver Creek
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Red Rock Plateau Trail
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4.38-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 996 ft elevation gain
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Hyman Creek Trail
~2 min drive
3.76-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 1,641 ft gain
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Middle Fork Hellroaring
~1 min drive
13.17-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,792 ft elevation gain.
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Mount Wallace Bootpath
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Grizzly Creek Cutoff
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4.16-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,103 ft gain/loss
