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© 2026 Roaming.Camp · Data from NPS, Recreation.gov, BLM, USFS, NWS, and the FCC.Operating on ceded ancestral land.Photography via Unsplash.

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Hike

Thunderbolt Mountain

Summits Thunderbolt Mountain
Inside Helena National Forest
4,659 ft of climbing

21.2 mi out & back · 4,659 ft gain · 8,578 ft high point · Very hard

Via Monarch Creek, Blackfoot Meadows, and Bison - Blackfoot (5.9 mi)

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

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Thunderbolt Mountain summits Thunderbolt Mountain in Helena National Forest via Monarch Creek and Blackfoot Meadows, climbing 4,659 ft out and back.

Elevation

4,659 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

3.7 mi from the trailhead
Kading Cabin
Campground · Montana

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

18 mi from you
Haystack
- Summits Haystack Mountain
- Inside Deerlodge National Forest
- 2,139 ft of climbing
5.7 mi out & back · 2,139 ft gain · Hard
Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 6 mi away

Out: 3,290 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

Thunderbolt MountainDestination · 10.6 mi in

Map

The hike from its start, the approach dashed. 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: 21.2 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 4,659 ft round trip
High point: 8,578 ft
Low point: 6,394 ft
Difficulty: Very hardFrom 21.2 mi and 4,659 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: Montana
Camps within 15 mi: 4
Trailhead: 46.4127° N · 112.4064° W

Get directions Open the map

10.6 mi from the trailhead

Moose Creek Cabin

Campground · Montana

10.6 mi from the trailhead

Moose Creek Campground

Campground

23 mi from you

CDT - Idaho & Montana Section

Ends at Upper Waterton Lake
Inside Glacier National Park
188,201 ft of climbing

968.1 mi one way · 188,201 ft gain · Very hard

Glacier National Park

Lookout

Summits Thunderbolt Mountain
Inside Deerlodge National Forest
2,996 ft of climbing

14.6 mi out & back · 2,996 ft gain · Very hard

Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 10 mi away

L.o. Connection

Ends at Cottonwood Lake
Inside Deerlodge National Forest
3,275 ft of climbing

16.4 mi loop · 3,275 ft gain · Very hard

Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 10 mi away

North Arm

Ends at Whitetail Reservoir
Inside Deerlodge National Forest
2,124 ft of climbing

9.5 mi out & back · 2,124 ft gain · Very hard

Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 12 mi away

Continental Divide

Passes Meyers Hill
Inside Deerlodge National Forest
10,673 ft of climbing

51.3 mi one way · 10,673 ft gain · Very hard

Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 5 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Thunder Mountain
- Passes Thunder Mountain
- Inside Bitterroot National Forest
- 1,965 ft of climbing
6.2 mi out & back · 1,965 ft gain · Hard
Bitterroot National Forest · Camp 3 mi away
Lookout
- Summits Thunderbolt Mountain
- Inside Deerlodge National Forest
- 2,996 ft of climbing
14.6 mi out & back · 2,996 ft gain · Very hard
Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 10 mi away
Blackfoot Meadows
- Inside Helena National Forest
- 2,885 ft of climbing
- Camp under a mile away
15.4 mi out & back · 2,885 ft gain · Very hard
Helena National Forest · Camp under a mile away
Thunderbolt Creek
- Inside Deerlodge National Forest
- 1,112 ft of climbing
7.2 mi out & back · 1,112 ft gain · Moderate
Deerlodge National Forest · Camp 8 mi away

Weather

7-day forecast

Today42°24°Sunny
Thu37°22°Partly Sunny
Fri40°29°Mostly Sunny
Sat46°34°Mostly Sunny
Sun53°30°Mostly Sunny
Mon46°32°Partly Sunny
Tue47°34°Mostly Sunny

Today: Sunny · wind 2 mph N

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

No carrier reports signal at this spot.

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain