Montana · Mountain biking · Near Emigrant

Swan Creek Trail

1.9 mi
round trip
1,138 ft
climb
Singletrack
surface
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Swan Creek Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Bozeman Ranger District. It doesn't name Swan Creek Trail, so check the source for the area it covers (17 listed).

As of · Source: USFS · Bozeman Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Swan Creek Trail is a mountain biking route in the Bozeman Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 1.9 miles long and rated moderate, with a total climb of about 1,138 feet over the round trip. The route is an out-and-back, starting at a low point of about 6,400 feet and reaching a high of about 6,840 feet. The steepest stretch comes early, around 0.46 miles in, with a grade of about 17 percent. That makes the first part of the climb the most demanding, and the trail is roughly 3.8 miles long from start to finish. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Big Sky show July highs around 78°F with lows near 41°F, while winter highs stay in the 20s and 30s. The Upper Moose Swan Cutoff Trail starts just 0.1 mile away, and the South Fork Swan Creek Trail and Swan Creek hike are both within a mile. For an overnight stay, Moose Creek Flat campground is about 5.7 miles off.

Around this trail

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

    Best time to visit 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. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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