Beartooth Mountains
Photo: Forest Service - Northern Region, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)- 12 routes
- 5.4 – 5.11b
- Alpine · Trad
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is Beartooth Mountains open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Beartooth Ranger District. It doesn't name Beartooth Mountains, so check the source for the area it covers (14 listed).
Krueger Pond Wild Horse and Burro Gather Closure Area
Agency closure covering Beartooth Ranger District · Order 01-11-82-27-01 · USFS · Beartooth Ranger District
NFSR #1700 South Plateau Road Closure
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Pine Grove Campground Closure
Agency closure covering Beartooth Ranger District · Order 01-11-82-26-04 · USFS · Beartooth Ranger District
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Summer Interim Travel Order and Map and Order # 01-11-00-26-02
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-00-26-02 · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Winter Interim Travel Order and Map Order Number: #01-11-00-26-01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Beartooth Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
The Beartooth Mountains climbing area lies within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, part of the Beartooth Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana. The Forest Service manages the land, and the area falls inside designated wilderness. The climbing here is alpine in style, with 12 routes spread across the range. Alpine routes make up nine of them, and trad routes three. Grades run from 5.4 to 5.11b, with the median around 5.8. Among the named routes are Huckleberry Creek / Avalanche Lake Approach at 5.4, The Ramp at 5.7, and Spidey at 5.11b. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from the nearby Mystic Lake weather station, which sits about 770 feet lower than the mountains, show July highs around 75°F with lows near 50°F. Winter is cold, with January highs around 34°F and lows near 18°F. East Rosebud is the closest hike, about 1.6 miles away, and East Rosebud Campground and East Rosebud Lake are both within about 2.5 miles. Spread Creek is about 2.7 miles off.
Best time to go · Jul–Sep
Best time to visit Beartooth Mountains
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.
Jan
34° / 18°
8 wet
Feb
34° / 17°
9 wet
Mar
41° / 22°
11 wet
Apr
48° / 27°
12 wet
May
57° / 35°
14 wet
Jun
66° / 43°
14 wet
Jul
75° / 50°
12 wet
Aug
74° / 50°
11 wet
Sep
65° / 42°
10 wet
Oct
52° / 32°
10 wet
Nov
40° / 24°
9 wet
Dec
33° / 18°
9 wet
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mystic Lake, MT, 6.8 mi away at 6,544 ft. The station sits about 800 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.
Routes (12)
Double Book(1)
Granite Peak(4)
Hell Roaring Plateau(1)
Mt. Hole in the Wall(1)
Rosina's Tower(1)
Stillwater River Canyon(1)
Tower of Poor Rock(1)
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