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Hike

Thunderbolt Mountain

Summits Thunderbolt Mountain
Inside Helena National Forest
1,789 ft of climbing

4.8 mi one way · 1,789 ft climb · 8,578 ft high point · Easy

In Helena National Forest · Montana · U.S. Forest Service

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Reach Thunderbolt Mountain in Helena National Forest on this 4.8 mile trail that climbs 1,789 feet.

Elevation

534 ft of gain and 1,789 ft of descent.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

7.1 mi from the trailhead
Kading Cabin
Campground · Montana
12.0 mi from the trailhead

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

14 mi from you
Haystack
- Summits Haystack Mountain
- Inside Deerlodge National Forest
- 2,121 ft of climbing
2.9 mi one way · 2,121 ft climb · Easy
Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 6 mi away

Elevation along the trail from the start. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Thunderbolt MountainDestination · 0.0 mi in

Map

The route at the trailhead. Drag with two fingers, or hold a key to zoom.

Trail data: USFS, NPS, © OpenStreetMap contributors (ODbL). Elevation: USGS 3DEP via Mapzen terrain tiles. Nearby reading: Wikipedia. Download the trail and feature data.

At a glance

Length: 4.8 mi
Shape: One way
Gain: 534 ft
Descent: 1,789 ft
High point: 8,578 ft
Low point: 7,323 ft
Difficulty: Easy
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: Montana
Camps within 15 mi: 3
Trailhead: 46.3291° N · 112.4539° W

Get directions Open the map

Sheepshead Picnic Area

Campground · Montana

12.5 mi from the trailhead

Freedom Point Picnic Area

Campground · Montana

1 mi from you

Lookout

Summits Thunderbolt Mountain
Inside Deerlodge National Forest
1,418 ft of climbing

4.1 mi one way · 1,418 ft climb · Easy

Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 9 mi away

Syndicate Park

Summits Sugarloaf Mountain
Inside Deerlodge National Forest

1.5 mi one way · 934 ft climb · Easy

Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 6 mi away

North Arm

Ends at Whitetail Reservoir
Inside Deerlodge National Forest
1,247 ft of climbing

4.8 mi one way · 1,247 ft climb · Easy

Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 12 mi away

L.o. Connection

Ends at Cottonwood Lake
Inside Deerlodge National Forest

1.7 mi one way · 892 ft climb · Easy

Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 7 mi away

Continental Divide

Passes Meyers Hill
Inside Helena National Forest
10,713 ft of climbing

51.8 mi one way · 10,713 ft climb · Easy

Helena National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Lookout
- Summits Thunderbolt Mountain
- Inside Deerlodge National Forest
- 1,418 ft of climbing
4.1 mi one way · 1,418 ft climb · Easy
Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 9 mi away
Thunder Mountain
- Summits Thunder Mountain
- Inside Bitterroot National Forest
- 1,421 ft of climbing
3.2 mi one way · 1,421 ft climb · Very hard
Bitterroot National Forest · Camp 6 mi away
Bison MT
- Near Bison Mountain
- Inside Helena National Forest
- 1,135 ft of climbing
2.5 mi one way · 1,135 ft climb · Moderate
Helena National Forest · Camp 4 mi away
Blackfoot Meadows
- Inside Helena National Forest
- 2,198 ft of climbing
- Camp under a mile away
7.9 mi one way · 2,198 ft climb · Moderate
Helena National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Weather

7-day forecast

Fri54°42°Slight Chance Rain Showers
Sat44°39°Rain Showers
Sun55°42°Mostly Sunny
Mon58°43°Sunny
Tue57°41°Mostly Sunny
Wed56°42°Sunny
Thu58°Sunny

Fri: Slight Chance Rain Showers then Chance Showers And Thunderstorms · wind 3 to 7 mph WSW

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

AT&TNo signal
T-MobileLTE · Poor

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain