Montana · Hiking · Near Emigrant

Westshore

WestshorePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
6.0 mi
round trip
130 ft
climb
6,837 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Westshore open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Bozeman Ranger District. It doesn't name Westshore, so check the source for the area it covers (16 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Bozeman Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Westshore is a moderate, 6-mile out-and-back hike in the Bozeman Ranger District of Montana's Custer Gallatin National Forest. The trail rises about 130 feet from a low point of 6,683 feet to a high of 6,837 feet, and it is managed by the Forest Service. The trailhead is at Blackmore Trailhead, and the parking area is labeled WEST SHORE. The route is on natural surface, and both horses and bikes are allowed, so the trail suits riders and pack animals as well as hikers. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station run to a high of 78°F and a low of 41°F, with September easing to a high near 68°F. Several other outings sit right around the trail. Hyalite Canyon is just 0.1 mile away, and Crescent Lake and Black Crescent are each about 0.4 mile off. Climbers can find Swamp Rock about 1.4 miles away.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Hyalite Below Dam Camping

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Blacksmith Italian

    Restaurant

    Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Emigrant

Local outfitters

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

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Westshore

    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

      30° / 9°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 9°

      11 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 17°

      12 wet

    4. Apr

      48° / 23°

      11 wet

    5. May

      58° / 30°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      67° / 36°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      78° / 41°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      77° / 39°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 33°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      53° / 25°

      10 wet

    11. Nov

      37° / 16°

      11 wet

    12. Dec

      27° / 9°

      14 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Big Sky 2wnw, MT, 22.1 mi away at 6,590 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Keep exploring — more trails worth the drive

Hyalite CanyonPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Hyalite Canyon

Next door

10.53-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 323 ft elevation gain.

Crescent LakePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Crescent Lake

Next door

2.66-mile out-and-back trail to Crescent Lake in Montana with 148 ft of elevation gain.

Lower Wildhorse Lick TrailPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Lower Wildhorse Lick Trail

~2 min drive

8.52-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,661 ft elevation gain

New World GulchPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

New World Gulch

~12 min drive

11.04-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,025 ft gain.

BlackmorePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)

Blackmore

~1 min drive

12.22-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,955 ft elevation gain.

Wildhorse Cutoff TrailPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Wildhorse Cutoff Trail

~2 min drive

0.6-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 156 ft elevation gain.

Hyalite Creek TrailPhoto: Matt Lavin from Bozeman, Montana, USA, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

Hyalite Creek Trail

~11 min drive

2.9-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 1,099 ft elevation gain

HIKE

Storm Castle Creek Trail

~11 min drive

15.5-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 4,109 ft elevation gain/loss.

East Fork DividePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

East Fork Divide

~6 min drive

4.96-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,455 ft elevation gain.

Hood Creek TrailPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Hood Creek Trail

~2 min drive

2.48-mile out-and-back hike in Montana with 854 ft gain and 7,537 ft max elevation.