Montana · Cross-country skiing · Near Emigrant

Lower Wildhorse Lick Trail

0.2 mi
round trip
187 ft
climb
6,814 ft
high point
Out and back
route
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Lower Wildhorse Lick Trail open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Bozeman Ranger District. It doesn't name Lower Wildhorse Lick 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.

Lower Wildhorse Lick Trail is a short, easy cross-country ski route in the Bozeman Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The trail is about 0.24 miles long, and the round trip adds up to roughly 0.48 miles with a total elevation gain of 187 feet. The climb is gentle, with the steepest stretch at about 11% grade near the 0.17-mile mark. Winter is the natural season for skiing here. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Big Sky show January highs around 30°F with lows near 9°F, while July highs reach about 78°F. That station sits a few hundred feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run slightly cooler. The trail sits close to several other destinations. Fs 3203A, a mountain biking route, is about 0.1 mile away, and Hyalite Canyon is about 0.4 mile off. For camping, Fr 62 Lower Hyalite Creek Road 026a is about 0.4 mile away. Climbers can find Swamp Rock about 1.5 miles from the trail.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Fr 62 Hyalite Below The Dam 164

    Campground

    Campground · 0.3 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Blacksmith Italian

    Restaurant

    Open after 6

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Emigrant

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Lower Wildhorse Lick 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, 22.6 mi away at 6,590 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors