Montana · Hiking

West Morrell-Rice Ridge Loop

23.8 mi
round trip
4,230 ft
climb
5,948 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is WEST MORRELL-RICE RIDGE LOOP 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.

The West Morrell-Rice Ridge Loop is a long, steep out-and-back hike in Montana's Lolo National Forest, within the Seeley Lake Ranger District. The route starts and ends at about 4,059 feet, climbs to a high point of 5,948 feet, and drops back down to the same low point, making the total gain and loss each about 4,230 feet. The climb is front-loaded, with the steepest stretch at about 10.8 miles in, where the grade reaches 12 percent. The hike is rated expert, and the round trip covers about 47.6 miles. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Lindbergh Lake weather station show July and August highs around 78°F with lows near 50°F and only about seven wet days a month. That station sits roughly 1,600 feet lower than the high point, so temperatures on the ridge run cooler. The Tamaracks Trail A and B branches start just 0.1 mile away, and the Seeley Lake Campground Complex is about 0.9 mile off. Mountain View, a cross-country ski area, is 0.4 mile away.

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit WEST MORRELL-RICE RIDGE LOOP

    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

      31° / 16°

      19 wet · 17 snow

    2. Feb

      34° / 17°

      16 wet · 14 snow

    3. Mar

      42° / 23°

      16 wet · 11 snow

    4. Apr

      50° / 30°

      14 wet · 6 snow

    5. May

      60° / 38°

      14 wet · 1 snow

    6. Jun

      68° / 45°

      13 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 50°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      78° / 49°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      67° / 41°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      51° / 32°

      12 wet · 3 snow

    11. Nov

      38° / 24°

      16 wet · 10 snow

    12. Dec

      29° / 16°

      19 wet · 16 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Lindbergh Lake, MT, 17.6 mi away at 4,320 ft. The station sits about 1,600 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.