Montana · Hiking · Near Emigrant

Wheeler Gulch

12.2 mi
round trip
1,669 ft
climb
7,940 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Wheeler Gulch open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Bozeman Ranger District. It doesn't name Wheeler Gulch, 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.

Wheeler Gulch is a hard out-and-back hike of about 12 miles in the Bozeman Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The trail climbs about 1,670 feet, from a low of roughly 6,000 feet to a high of nearly 8,000. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July highs around 78°F with lows near 41°F, and the trail sits higher than that station, so temperatures on top run a bit cooler. Winters are cold, with January highs around 30°F. The trail is natural-surface and allows both horses and bikes. Langohr Divide is less than half a mile away, and South Cottonwood is about 1.4 miles off. For an overnight stay, the Fr 682 Langhor Road Langhor Toole 143 campground is about 1.4 miles away. Climbers can find Crocodile Rock about 1.7 miles from the trail.

Around this trail

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

    Fr 682 Langohr Toole Rd Site 145

    Campground

    Campground · 1.3 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 Wheeler Gulch

    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, 21.4 mi away at 6,590 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.

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