Montana · Hiking · Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness

Wounded Man

8.4 mi
round trip
1,379 ft
climb
8,992 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Aug
best months

Is Wounded Man open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name Wounded Man, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Wounded Man is a hard hike in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, part of the Gardiner Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The route is an out-and-back of about 8.4 miles, with a one-way elevation gain of 1,379 feet, taking you from a low point of about 7,594 feet to a high of about 8,992 feet. The trail is on natural surface and allows horses, but not bikes. It is managed by the Forest Service and is open year-round. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Cooke City, which sits about 1,500 feet lower, show July highs around 74°F with lows near 39°F, while winter highs there stay in the 20s. Nearby hikes include Slough Creek, about 1.7 miles away, and Horseshoe Basin, about 2.6 miles away. Rock Creek and Horseshoe Mtn are each about 3.4 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Aug

    Best time to visit Wounded Man

    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.

    1. Jan

      24° / 6°

      17 wet

    2. Feb

      29° / 7°

      13 wet

    3. Mar

      37° / 14°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      43° / 21°

      13 wet

    5. May

      54° / 28°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      64° / 34°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      74° / 39°

      11 wet

    8. Aug

      71° / 38°

      11 wet

    9. Sep

      62° / 31°

      10 wet

    10. Oct

      47° / 24°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      31° / 13°

      14 wet

    12. Dec

      22° / 6°

      17 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Cooke City 2 W, MT, 12.2 mi away at 7,483 ft. The station sits about 1,500 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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Buffalo ForkPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Hidden LakePhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

Hidden Lake

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Wolverine Pass CutoffPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Upper Slough Trailhead (2N4)

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Rock Creek

~6 min drive

12.07-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 2,074 ft elevation gain.

Telephone BasinPhoto: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public Domain Mark (via Flickr)

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Horseshoe Basin

~5 min drive

1.07-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 517 ft gain

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Slough Creek

~7 min drive

23.70-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 1,681 ft elevation gain.

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Slough Creek

~3 min drive

4.36-mile out-and-back trail at Slough Creek, Montana with 695 ft of elevation gain.

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Horseshoe Mtn

~6 min drive

2.96-mile out-and-back trail in Montana with 285 ft gain.