Winding its manner from thick lodgepole forests to excessive alpine meadows, and down by way of plunging canyons to the sting of Montana ranch nation, the Crushed Path is without doubt one of the most iconic Montana trails exterior Glacier Nationwide Park.
Positioned a stone’s by way of from Yellowstone within the Beartooth Mountains, the Crushed Path is a point-to-point path working from the Clark’s Fork Picnic Space exterior of Cooke Metropolis to the East Rosebud Trailhead in the neighborhood of Alpine.
Used as a jumping-off level for alpine adventures within the Absorka-Beartooth Wilderness, the Crushed Path is a good way to rapidly entry the excessive nation the realm is understood for. The path is large, well-traveled, and sometimes well-maintained.
Whereas sections can change into muddy from horse visitors, the path is usually in nice form in the course of the summer season and early fall months. Huckleberries line the trail in season and it’s not unusual to see bears and moose alongside the best way.
The Beartooth Mountains obtain essentially the most snow of any mountain vary in Montana, which means that the season for this path is later than these present in lower-elevation ranges.
Mosquitos might be prolific within the spring and early summer season and it’s not unusual for it to snow within the excessive nation at any time of 12 months. Regardless of these challenges, the Crushed Path is an exquisite tour into one of the wild and distant corners of the Mountain West.
That is an superior journey and is without doubt one of the dozens of backpacking journey guides we put collectively based mostly on our wilderness journeys.
Fast Info
- Distance: ~27 miles
- Days Wanted: 2-3
- Kind of Path: Level to Level
- Elevation Acquire: ~3,500’
- Greatest Time to Journey: Finish of June to mid-September
- Permits: No allow required
- Problem: Average
Highlights
- Alpine surroundings
- Nicely maintained path
- Plentiful lakes and waterfalls
- Alternatives to increase the journey
- Ample fishing alternatives
- Web elevation is downhill (southwest to northeast)
Lowlights
- Mosquitos
- Habituated mountain goats at sure campsites
- Quick season
- Afternoon thunderstorms
- Difficult automobile shuttle
Greatest Time to Hike
The close by city of Cooke Metropolis is the snowiest in Montana with a median snowfall of over 200 inches. Whereas this helps keep a number of the final glaciers in Southwest Montana, it makes the alpine mountaineering season quick.
The perfect time to hike the Crushed Path is usually the tip of June by way of mid-September. Whereas the path doesn’t cross any steep passes, it does go as much as 10,000 toes. After the snow recedes, the path can change into very moist and muddy which often coincides with the primary important hatch of mosquitos. Climbing later in the summertime ensures drier circumstances. The primary snow sometimes falls in September however the early fall might be the proper time to hike with cooler temperatures and fewer guests.
Problem of Path
At roughly 27 miles in size, the Crushed Path is finest fitted to one to 2 nights. Whereas many ultra-distance fanatics do hike and run it in a day, a slower tempo could match others higher.
The path is usually in good situation and is large and well-traveled. Going as much as an elevation of 10,000 toes, altitude could also be a consideration if you already know that you’re prone.
Doing the path from the Clark’s Fork aspect and ending on the East Rosebud aspect signifies that it has a web lack of elevation ending decrease than the place you began. This makes for an excellent final day on the path that’s nearly utterly downhill.
We think about this to be a reasonably difficult path. Whereas it’s all on a well-traveled path, its remoteness, chance for wildlife encounters, and altitude make it barely tougher than trails in much less distant places.
Climate Circumstances
At an altitude upwards of 10,000 toes, inclement climate is all the time a chance. In the summertime, intense afternoon thunderstorms construct to unleash downpours and hail storms. We advocate coming ready with strong rain gear and heat layers regardless of the time of 12 months. Know lightning protocol and be ready to squat out a storm if want be. Wildfires are additionally a consideration later in the summertime. Adhere to all burn bans and guidelines on campfires.
Wildlife
The Crushed Path traverses a distant part of the Beartooth Mountains of Southwest Montana, making it a hall for big animals like grizzly bears and moose. We propose mountaineering with bear spray and preserving all meals in a bear-proof container or hanging it at camp. Many campsites alongside the path include established bear dangle poles.
Most of the larger altitude campsites additionally include mountain goats that can strategy (and eat) your meals if it’s not correctly saved. Additionally they search out human pee spots to lick up the salt (and by the way, additionally get pleasure from licking trekking pole grips). They’re usually docile but it surely’s finest to keep away from habituating these animals to people greater than they already are.
Terrain
The rolling terrain on a well-traveled path makes it appropriate for many hikers. Nonetheless, it’s nonetheless vital to be ready in case of an emergency, particularly in a distant spot resembling this. Carry a primary assist equipment and a private locator beacon (PLB) and know use each. As in most backcountry emergencies, essentially the most dependable evacuation is a self-evacuation. It might take a very long time for assist to reach.
Planning Your Journey & Get There
The Crushed Path is positioned in one of many extra distant corners of the nation. The closest massive airport is in Billings, MT (BIL) three hours from the beginning. Renting a automobile is smart as there isn’t any public transportation to both trailhead.
The city of Pink Lodge is taken into account the bottom camp of a lot of the Beartooth Vary and has all of the facilities wanted for gearing up for a backcountry tour. There are not any permits wanted for this path. The Clarks Fork trailhead is positioned inside the Gardiner Ranger District and the East Rosebud finish is positioned inside the Beartooth Ranger District. Name both for path circumstances.
The Crushed Path Route
The Crushed Path is a point-to-point hike with trailheads on the Clarks Fork Picnic Space exterior of Cooke Metropolis and the East Rosebud Trailhead close to Alpine. Whereas the East Rosebud aspect has the extra dramatic surroundings, the Cooke Metropolis aspect begins at a considerably larger elevation. By beginning at that aspect, you’ll be able to get pleasure from a web downhill hike all the way down to East Rosebud.
Distances between locations are immense in Montana and that is no exception – there’s a ninety-five-mile automobile shuttle over Beartooth Move and across the mountains. Many events discover somebody to commerce automobile keys with or determine a automobile shuttle choice nicely prematurely. Each trailheads are distant with no cell service, so planning forward is vital.
Ranging from the Clark Fork Picnic Space, take the Russell Creek Path. It crosses the attractive Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone River instantly after leaving the parking zone. The path winds by way of the dense Lodgepole Pine forest for the subsequent six miles. This part of path is frequented by horses, so anticipate it to be muddy. Huckleberries are plentiful alongside this part of the path. At about 8 miles round Ouzel Lake, the trail begins to open up with a superb campsite alongside the lake.
The following part reaches the very best level close to Fossil Lake. Right here you’re greeted with expansive views of the Beartooth Plateau and a number of the highest mountains within the state. The strolling right here is easy and straightforward with numerous alternatives to discover the alpine. A myriad of lakes and creeks stuffed with cutthroat trout glitter round each nook of this lovely part. You might be allowed to camp round Fossil Lake, however fires should not permitted on this delicate alpine setting.
After passing Fossil Lake, you begin the lengthy downward journey following East Rosebud Creek because it tumbles and cascades out of the mountains. Lovely waterfalls and cascades line the path because it winds its manner down. Some sections embrace unimaginable cabinets and path development because it meanders alongside ledges and cliffs above lovely waterfalls. Now beneath treeline, huckleberries and campsites are considerable.
Now on the East Rosebud Path, the Crushed Path begins to alter in character. The path turns into rockier and the partitions of the canyon soar above because the creek carves its manner by way of the canyon. After passing Rimrock Lake, the path descends by way of the hovering granite partitions of the East Rosebud Canyon. This spectacular canyon was closely flooded in June 2022 (as was the remainder of the Yellowstone Area). After passing Elk Lake, the river has eroded the path in components requiring side-hilling by way of dense lodgepole forests and over boulders in spots to keep away from the river. At instances, the simplest manner is strolling down the river, water ranges allowing.
The ultimate few miles of the path move by way of thick lodgepole forests of identically aged timber that grew after the 1996 Shepard Mountain hearth. In scorching temperatures, this part might be uncovered to the solar, however will not be lengthy to go earlier than the trailhead at East Rosebud Lake. End your hike with a burger and beer down within the small city of Roscoe on the Grizzly Bar.
Backpacking Gear – What to Pack
Gear Checklist
Ensure to take a look at our Final Backpacking Guidelines so that you don’t neglect one thing vital.
Under you’ll discover our present favourite backpacking gear. If you wish to see extra choices, our curated gear guides are the results of a few years of intensive analysis and hands-on testing by our workforce of out of doors specialists.
BACKPACK
Conclusion
The Crushed Path is an exquisite path that passes by way of a number of the most distant and rugged corners of the nation. Positioned close to Yellowstone Nationwide Park, its quiet remoteness stands at odds with the crowds discovered inside the park. This can be a nice path for somebody wanting to realize expertise in a distant setting whereas nonetheless being on a well-established path. Greatest accomplished mid-summer to early fall, the Crushed Path delivers iconic Montana mountainscapes, plentiful swimming and fishing holes, and fantastic wilderness seclusion.
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