Montana · Rock climbing · Gallatin Gateway · Near Emigrant

Tango Tower

8 routes
5.10c – 5.12d
Trad · Sport
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Tango Tower open right now?

Closure in the area

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

Tango Tower is a climbing area in the Bozeman Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. It sits among several other climbing spots, with The Watchtower - Lower and The Waltz Formation both about 0.1 mile away, and the Gallatin River fishing access also within a tenth of a mile. The area's climbing is mostly traditional, with eight routes ranging from 5.10c to 5.12d. Still Life is a 5.10c trad route, and The Fool and Watercolor Wall are both 5.11a. The hardest is Paint Hearted Easel Driver, a 5.12d sport route. The Waltz Formation and The Watchtower - Lower are close by for more options. Summer is the most comfortable time to climb. 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. Nearby, Lava Lake is about a mile away for hiking, and Garnet Mountain Fire Lookout offers camping roughly 1.3 miles off. Rat Lake Trail, a mountain biking route, is about 1.2 miles away.

Around this trail

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  • Sleep close

    Hwy191-14 Mm62.4

    Campground

    Campground · 0.8 mi from the trail

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

    Best time to visit Tango Tower

    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, 10.7 mi away at 6,590 ft. The station sits about 800 ft higher than this place, so expect it a little warmer here. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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