Montana · Rock climbing · Pinesdale

Flathead Buttress

5 routes
5.9 – 5.11
Trad
Jun–Sep
best months

Is Flathead Buttress open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists 2 alerts for Bitterroot National Forest.

As of · Source: USFS · Bitterroot National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Flathead Buttress is a climbing area in the Stevensville Ranger District of Montana's Bitterroot National Forest, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among a cluster of climbing and hiking destinations, with Blodgett Canyon just 0.4 miles away and Blodgett Campground about 2.2 miles off. The area has five trad routes, all rated between 5.9 and 5.11. Rain Dance and tango to the top are both 5.9, and My Mom's Burnt Cat Memorial is the hardest at 5.11. The routes are all traditional, and the grade range makes this a destination for climbers comfortable with 5.9 and above. Summer is the most comfortable time to visit. Typical averages from a nearby weather station show July and August highs around 81°F with lows near 40°F and only about eight wet days a month. That station sits roughly 1,100 feet lower than the buttress, so temperatures on the rock run cooler. Winter is cold, with January highs near 31°F and lows around 10°F. Climber's Path is a hike 0.7 miles away, and Canyon Creek is about 2 miles off. Blodgett Campground offers camping, and Mill Creek North Rim is a climbing area about 3 miles away.

  • Best time to go · Jun–Sep

    Best time to visit Flathead Buttress

    Best months: June–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

      31° / 10°

      13 wet

    2. Feb

      35° / 12°

      12 wet

    3. Mar

      43° / 20°

      13 wet

    4. Apr

      50° / 25°

      13 wet

    5. May

      61° / 32°

      13 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 37°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      81° / 40°

      8 wet

    8. Aug

      81° / 38°

      8 wet

    9. Sep

      70° / 32°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      54° / 26°

      11 wet

    11. Nov

      38° / 18°

      13 wet

    12. Dec

      29° / 10°

      13 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Sula 14 Ne, MT, 36.7 mi away at 5,155 ft. The station sits about 1,100 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 (5)