Hellgate Canyon
Photo: A-Reck, CC BY-SA 3.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)- 3.0 mi
- distance
- 1,915 ft
- climb
- May–Sep
- best months
Is Hellgate Canyon 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.
Hellgate Canyon is a mountain biking route in the Missoula Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in western Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The ride covers about 3 miles, with a one-way climb of roughly 1,900 feet from a low point of about 3,200 feet to a high of about 5,150 feet. The steepest stretch comes early, with a grade of about 31% at around 0.3 miles in. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Potomac, which sits well below the canyon, show July and August highs around 82°F with lows near 40°F. That station's figures are only a rough guide, since temperatures up high run cooler. Several other routes start close by. Sentinel Climb and University Mountain Tie are both about 0.4 miles away, and Hellgate Ridgeline is about half a mile off. For an overnight base, Pattee Canyon Picnic Area is about 4.4 miles away.
Local outfitters
- Granite Peak RV Resort11 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
Best time to go · May–Sep
Best time to visit Hellgate Canyon
Best months: May–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.
Jan
30° / 8°
8 wet · 6 snow
Feb
35° / 9°
6 wet · 5 snow
Mar
45° / 17°
6 wet · 3 snow
Apr
54° / 24°
6 wet · 1 snow
May
64° / 30°
8 wet
Jun
71° / 38°
9 wet
Jul
82° / 41°
6 wet
Aug
82° / 39°
4 wet
Sep
71° / 32°
5 wet
Oct
55° / 23°
7 wet · 1 snow
Nov
39° / 16°
8 wet · 3 snow
Dec
29° / 9°
8 wet · 6 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Potomac, MT, 18.6 mi away at 3,690 ft. The station sits about 1,500 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
Keep exploring — more rides worth the drive
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RIDE
University Ridge
~1 min drive
University Ridge is a 1.35-mile trail in Montana's Crazy Canyon trail system.
Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors
