Montana · Mountain biking · Near Emigrant

Fs 478

1.1 mi
round trip
554 ft
climb
Singletrack
surface
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is FS 478 open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Bozeman Ranger District. It doesn't name FS 478, 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.

FS 478 is an easy out-and-back mountain biking route in Montana's Bozeman Ranger District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest, about a mile from the Forest Service's trail network. The climb starts at roughly 6,788 feet and reaches a high point of 7,108 feet, with a total elevation gain of 554 feet over the course of the 2.2-mile round trip. The route is rated easy, and the steepest stretch comes at about 0.18 miles from the start, where the grade reaches 12 percent. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. At a nearby weather station in Big Sky, typical July averages run to a high of 78°F and a low of 41°F, and temperatures at the trail's higher elevation run a little cooler than that station's figures. Big Bear Lake Road and Bear Divide Road both lie about half a mile away, and the South Jersey Shore climbing area is also close by. For an overnight stay, Fox Creek Cabin (mt) is about 2.6 miles away.

Around this trail

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

    Fr980-17

    Campground

    Campground · < 0.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Blacksmith Italian

    Restaurant

    Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Emigrant
  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit FS 478

    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, 18.8 mi away at 6,590 ft. The station sits about 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.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors