Montana · Hiking

Yellowstone Shortline

17.5 mi
round trip
276 ft
climb
6,928 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jun–Aug
best months

Is Yellowstone Shortline open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Custer Gallatin National Forest. It doesn't name Yellowstone Shortline, so check the source for the area it covers (16 listed).

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

Yellowstone Shortline is a 17.5-mile out-and-back hike in the Hebgen Lake Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The trail is paved and rated hard, with a total elevation gain of 276 feet from a low point of 6,633 feet to a high of 6,928 feet. The trailhead is named Yellowstone Shortline Trailhead, and the route is open year-round. The trail is a paved corridor that works for hikers, cyclists and horseback riders. It is a long, steady climb rather than a steep one, and the route is best suited to a full day on foot or on horseback. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical July averages from a nearby weather station run to a high of 80°F and a low of 39°F, while winter highs stay in the mid-20s. The trail sits close to several other destinations. The 3 Ring Circus and In & Out cross-country ski trails and the Frontier Trail are all about 0.2 miles away. Hebgen Lake District, a lake fishing area, is about 0.9 miles off.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Aug

    Best time to visit Yellowstone Shortline

    Best months: June–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

      27° / 0°

    2. Feb

      31° / 1°

    3. Mar

      40° / 9°

    4. Apr

      48° / 21°

    5. May

      59° / 29°

    6. Jun

      68° / 34°

    7. Jul

      80° / 39°

    8. Aug

      78° / 36°

    9. Sep

      68° / 30°

    10. Oct

      51° / 21°

    11. Nov

      36° / 11°

    12. Dec

      26° / 3°

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at W Yellowstone Gateway, MT, 1.1 mi away at 6,679 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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Gneiss Creek (WK7)

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Up River LoopPhoto: sterferg, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)

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~3 min drive

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