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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

Nichols Connector

Near a viewpoint
Inside Custer National Forest
Camp 1 mi away

5.3 mi out & back · 902 ft gain · 6,541 ft high point · Moderate

From Nichols Creek Trailhead via the Nichols Trail (0.2 mi)

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

About Elevation Highlights Map Camp near here More hikes

About this hike

Nichols Connector is a 5.3 mile out and back from Nichols Creek Trailhead via Nichols Trail in Custer National Forest, climbing 902 feet to 6,541 feet near a viewpoint.

Elevation

902 ft of gain round trip.

Camp near here

The closest places to sleep, measured from the trailhead.

See all on the map

1.2 mi from the trailhead
Palisades Campground
Campground · Montana

More hikes nearby

Ranked the same way, within twenty-five miles.

19 mi from you
East Rosebud
- Ends at Fossil Lake
- Inside Custer National Forest
- 5,547 ft of climbing
16.7 mi one way · 5,547 ft gain · Very hard
Custer National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Out: 400 ft up, returns the same way. Source: USGS 3DEP.

Highlights

What the trail reaches, measured from the start.

ViewpointNearby · 0.9 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: 5.3 mi
Shape: Out & back
Gain: 902 ft round trip
High point: 6,541 ft
Low point: 6,263 ft
Difficulty: ModerateFrom 5.3 mi and 902 ft of climbing
Managed by: U.S. Forest Service
State: Montana
Camps within 15 mi: 9
Start: Nichols Creek Trailhead
Trailhead: 45.1552° N · 109.3139° W

Get directions Open the map

3.8 mi from the trailhead

Sheridan

Campground · Montana

3.8 mi from the trailhead

Basin Montana Campground

Campground · Montana

22 mi from you

Farley Lake Loop

Ends at Copeland Lake
Inside Shoshone National Forest
4,313 ft of climbing

19.5 mi out & back · 4,313 ft gain · Very hard

Shoshone National Forest · Camp 5 mi away

Farley Lake Loop

Ends at Lake Elaine
Inside Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
2,383 ft of climbing

11.6 mi loop · 2,383 ft gain · Very hard

Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness · Camp 9 mi away

Crow Lake

Ends at Crow Lake
Inside Custer National Forest
4,777 ft of climbing

16.9 mi out & back · 4,777 ft gain · Very hard

Custer National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Sylvan Lake

Ends at Lake Sylvan
Inside Custer National Forest
5,475 ft of climbing

19.8 mi out & back · 5,475 ft gain · Very hard

Custer National Forest · Camp 2 mi away

Lake Fork

Ends at Sundance Pass
Inside Custer National Forest
4,256 ft of climbing

18.7 mi out & back · 4,256 ft gain · Very hard

Custer National Forest · Camp 1 mi away

More like this

Hikes that read like this one, wherever they are.

Nichols Trail
- Near a viewpoint
- Inside Custer National Forest
- 1,820 ft of climbing
8.4 mi out & back · 1,820 ft gain · Hard
Custer National Forest · Camp 1 mi away
Nichols Reservoir
- Ends at Rampart Reservoir
- Inside Pike National Forest
- Camp 2 mi away
1.2 mi out & back · 334 ft gain · Easy
Pike National Forest · Camp 2 mi away
NCT Nichols Lake South Spur
- Ends at Nichols Lake
- Inside Manistee National Forest
- Camp under a mile away
0.3 mi out & back · 35 ft gain · Easy
Manistee National Forest · Camp under a mile away
Ingles Creek
- Inside Custer National Forest
- 1,736 ft of climbing
- Camp under a mile away
7.9 mi out & back · 1,736 ft gain · Hard
Custer National Forest · Camp under a mile away

Weather

7-day forecast

Today60°38°Mostly Cloudy
Mon55°39°Mostly Sunny
Tue52°35°Mostly Sunny
Wed57°40°Sunny
Thu61°40°Mostly Sunny
Fri59°39°Mostly Sunny
Sat56°39°Mostly Sunny

Today: Mostly Cloudy · wind 10 mph S

National Weather Service · refreshed hourly

Signal

Cell coverage here

VerizonLTE · Poor
AT&TNo signal
T-MobileLTE · Fair

FCC coverage data · signal varies in remote terrain