Montana · Mountain biking · Near Emigrant

South Fork Swan Creek Trail

3.4 mi
round trip
3,869 ft
climb
Singletrack
surface
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is South Fork Swan Creek Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Bozeman Ranger District. It doesn't name South Fork Swan Creek Trail, 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.

South Fork Swan Creek Trail is a 6.9-mile out-and-back mountain biking route in the Bozeman Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The trail starts at a low point of about 6,369 feet and climbs to roughly 7,576 feet, with a one-way gain of 1,274 feet and a total round-trip gain of about 3,869 feet. The steepest part comes at about 2.6 miles, with a grade of 26%. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Big Sky, at a lower elevation, put July highs around 78°F with lows near 41°F, and August is nearly as warm. The Upper Moose Swan Cutoff Trail and the Swan Creek Trail both lie about 0.8 miles away, and the Swan Creek hike is about 1.4 miles off. For an overnight base, Moose Creek Flat campground sits about 5.6 miles away.

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

    Best time to visit South Fork Swan Creek Trail

    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, 14.7 mi away at 6,590 ft. The station sits about 1,000 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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