Mountain · 2 routes

Mount Headley

7,430 ft · Montana

Summit
7,430 ft
Routes
2 ways up
Season
June 1 – October 31

Routes up Mount Headley

  1. Vermilion-HeadleyHardabout 946 ft of climbing7.2 mi round tripSee the route
  2. Sundance RidgeHardabout 4,898 ft of climbing28.8 mi round tripSee the route
Compare the routes
Vermilion-HeadleySundance Ridge
ClimbingAbout 946 ftAbout 4,898 ft
Round trip7.2 mi28.8 mi
DifficultyHardHard
TerrainHikeHike
SeasonJune 1 – October 31Year-round
Map of the 2 routes up Mount Headley, with each route's start numbered and the summit marked
Vermilion-HeadleySundance RidgeMap © Mapbox © OpenStreetMap contributors

About Mount Headley

Mount Headley is a summit of 7,430 feet in the Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District of Lolo National Forest in western Montana. The nearest town is Belknap, about 10 miles away. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station at Mullan Pass show July and August highs around 70°F with only about six wet days a month, while winter highs stay near 28°F. The Mount Headley Cutoff hike starts just 0.3 miles away, and Upper Graves Creek is about half a mile off. For an overnight base, Cougar Peak Lookout is roughly 5.6 miles away, and West Fork Fishtrap Creek Campground is about 7.5 miles away.

Forecast on Mount Headley

Daily highs and lows, wind and the chance of precipitation at the summit and route start for the next 7 days, from the Open-Meteo model.

Questions about Mount Headley

How tall is Mount Headley?

7,430 ft (2,265 m).

How many routes go to the summit of Mount Headley?

2: Vermilion-Headley and Sundance Ridge.

What is the shortest route up Mount Headley?

Vermilion-Headley, about 7.2 mi round trip.

When is the best time to climb Mount Headley?

June 1 – October 31.

Mountains nearby

More mountains in Montana

Facts about this place

When to go

Best time to go: Jul–Aug. The mildest months here, with typical highs of 69–70°F and lows of 51–52°F.

Typical monthly averages (not a forecast) from the Mullan Pass Vor/Dme, ID weather station, 26 mi away. High / low in °F.

  1. Jan28° high19° low
  2. Feb28° high19° low
  3. Mar34° high22° low
  4. Apr40° high27° low
  5. May50° high36° low
  6. Jun58° high42° low
  7. Jul70° high52° low
  8. Aug69° high51° low
  9. Sep59° high44° low
  10. Oct44° high32° low
  11. Nov32° high23° low
  12. Dec27° high18° low

The station sits about 1,400 ft lower than this spot, so expect it to run cooler up here.

Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020

Where it is

Nearest town
Belknap, Montana · 9.8 mi

Source: USFS EDW boundaries; USGS GNIS populated places

Conditions

Active alerts for Lolo National Forest as of Oct 9, 2026:

Source: USFS forest alerts

Nearby

Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)

Is Mount Headley open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Lolo National Forest.

  • East Fork Big Creek Road & Trail Closure- Superior Ranger District

    Agency alert covering Lolo National Forest · Order 26-003- · USFS · Lolo National Forest

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

Best time to visit Mount Headley

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

    28° / 19°

    19 wet

  2. Feb

    28° / 19°

    17 wet

  3. Mar

    34° / 22°

    19 wet

  4. Apr

    40° / 27°

    17 wet

  5. May

    50° / 36°

    15 wet

  6. Jun

    58° / 42°

    13 wet

  7. Jul

    70° / 52°

    6 wet

  8. Aug

    69° / 51°

    6 wet

  9. Sep

    59° / 44°

    8 wet

  10. Oct

    44° / 32°

    13 wet

  11. Nov

    32° / 23°

    17 wet

  12. Dec

    27° / 18°

    18 wet

Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Mullan Pass Vor/Dme, ID, 26.4 mi away at 6,028 ft. The station sits about 1,400 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.