South Cottonwood Creek Trail

Dogs Leashed

Features Birding · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

This trail is usually used as an out-and-back trail, and extends deep into Gallatin National Forest. From the parking lot, you switchback up until the trail flattens out and carves it's way along the steep hill. After hiking about a mile, you finally meet the crystal-clear waters of the creek.

Continue along, slowly climbing until you pass the Langohr Divide Trail to the left and then the Wheeler Gulch Trail to the left. When you get to around the fourth mile, the trail begins to rise more aggressively for a little over a half mile.

Shortly after the big incline, the trail enters some wildflower-strewn open fields for about a mile before the forest closes back in. Right about the six-mile mark, you'll see History Rock Trail on your left and shortly after the Fox Creek back-country cabin.

Soon you enter a more rugged alpine environment with large talus and scree fields peeling off of the steep rock faces. Continuing on, the forest become more patchy, and you are greeted by some open alpine fields. The trail finishes with a choice of turning left onto the Blackmore Trail or right onto the Storm Castle Ridge Trail.