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Montana
7.2 mi
Distance
420 ft
Gain
2h 37m
Time
We won't guess. Here is exactly what we do and don't know.
What we do know
Inside Custer Gallatin National Forest
3 managing-area boundaries mapped — agency alerts for them feed this page automatically.
Boundary data
What's missing
No access route mapped
We don't yet know which road reaches this trailhead, so we can't tell you if it's gated.
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Why you'll love it
Pinchot Lake
AI-suggested draft · review before you go
No permit or access details on file for this trail — check with the local land manager before you go.
Pinchot Lake offers a scenic moderate hike through Montana backcountry, gaining 420 feet over 7.21 miles of well-established trail. This out-and-back route provides access to an alpine lake setting with typical subalpine forest and meadow terrain characteristic of the region. The gentle elevation profile makes this an accessible option for hikers seeking mountain lake views without extreme elevation demands.
West Fork Stillwater
~2 min drive
Moderate 10-mile creek-side hike in the Stillwater drainage with gentle elevation gain.
Fish Creek
~5 min drive
Moderate 5.65-mile creek-side hike with 817 ft elevation gain.
Lake Columbine
~9 min drive
Moderate 7.8-mile alpine lake hike with 1,658 ft elevation gain.
Wounded Man Creek
~8 min drive
Moderate 12.55-mile creek drainage hike with 2,110 ft elevation gain.
Upsidedown Creek
~6 min drive
Easy 0.3-mile creek walk with minimal elevation gain.
Slough Creek
~15 min drive
Scenic creek-side hike through Yellowstone meadows and forest.
Stillwater River
~9 min drive
Moderate 14.2-mile river valley hike with 921 ft elevation gain.
Independence
~14 min drive
Steady 5.2-mile climb with 890 ft gain near Independence, Montana.
Buffalo Divide
~17 min drive
Moderate 6.65-mile divide crossing with 1,603 ft elevation gain.
West Fork Stillwater
~10 min drive
Moderate 12.45-mile hike with 2,056 ft gain in the Stillwater drainage.
