If you’ve read any of our other Rocky Mountain Front posts, you’d know that this is one of our favorite areas in Montana to explore, and we are so lucky to live not too far away. After hiking Mount Wright the previous fall, we knew we wanted to come back to hike the West Fork Teton Trail. There isn’t much information online about this trail, so all we really knew is that it continued up the valley from where the Mount Wright Trail branched. We headed out the following summer to hike it and, like all hikes we’ve done in the area, we were not disappointed!
Getting to the West Fork Teton Trailhead
The nearest ‘major’ town to the West Fork Teton Trailhead is Choteau. From there, head north on Highway 89 until you reach Teton Canyon Road. Turn right here and follow the road all the way to the trailhead (about 32 miles). This road turns to gravel as you enter the Rocky Mountain Front, and while there may be some potholes, it is fairly well maintained. You’ll pass various campgrounds, other trailheads, and the Teton Pass Ski Resort.
The drive over Teton Pass is truly stunning as you descend down the winding road towards the trailhead. This road will dead end at the West Fork Teton Campground. There is trailhead parking at the far end of the campground. This is the official trailhead, but there is a small pull off closer to the start of the trail before you reach the turn for the campground with space for just a few cars as well.
Fees & Regulations
The West Fork Teton Trail sits in Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest. A portion of the trail lies in Bob Marshall Wilderness. There are no fees to park and hike here.
Bikes are not permitted on this trail. You can bring your pets – be prepared to encounter wildlife and horses along the trail.
Check the status of the trail and for any forest closures and regulations in effect on the National Forest site.
Hiking the West Fork Teton Trail
Hike Overview
Hike Type: Moderate out-and-back trail
Distance: 11.5-12 miles (18.5-19.3 kilometers), depending where you park to start and how far you hike at the saddle. You can also continue further beyond the saddle, which will take you to Trail #324 (Bowl Creek)
Duration: 4-6 hours
The Hike
From the beginning, the West Fork Teton Trail is pretty as it winds above a fork of the Teton River through an old burn area with rugged peaks surrounding the valley. Not long after beginning the hike, we passed the turnoff for Mount Wright, another incredible hike. This time, the valley was dotted with a large variety of wildflowers, which was different, but just as beautiful, as the bright fall colors we found last time we were in the area.
Since the area has been extensively burned, only the spindly skeletons of trees remain and there isn’t much shade. So, if doing this hike in the summer, we definitely recommend getting an early start! The day we hiked was hot, but luckily quite overcast. There were a couple little creek crossings along the way, which were easy to hop over on the rocks. These may be dried up later in the year.
After a few miles, we entered the woods and walked through the tall pines. This is where the trail begins to ascend. Up to this point, the trail was mostly a mild incline. We enjoyed hiking through trees with lush meadows of wildflowers and views of the surrounding peaks as we climbed.
Soon we reached tree line and continued a little ways longer to a saddle between peaks. From the saddle, the views in both directions were pretty! Looking ahead, there were more rugged peaks visible through the sea of burned trees, and looking back the way we came was the pretty valley and more steep cliffsides.
We ate our packed lunch and enjoyed the views before heading back down the same way. If you’re backpacking or wanting to hike further, you can continue down from the saddle into Flathead National Forest on the Bowl Creek Trail.
What to Bring
Water: A hike essential. There are water sources along the trail if you need to refill while backpacking.
Food: Snacks to refuel or a packed lunch to enjoy along the trail. Please pack out all your trash.
Hiking Shoes: The trail is steep and rocky in spots, so wear comfortable hiking shoes with good tread.
Bear Spray: We’ve encountered bears in the area! Bring your bear spray and know how to use it.
Sun Protection: There’s little shade along much of the trail, so bring sunglasses, a hat, and sunscreen.
Mini First Aid Kit: An item we like to bring on hikes just in case.
Camera: If you’d like to capture your adventure.
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