North Fork Trail is a 5.8 mile moderately trafficked out and back trail located near Big Sky, Montana that features a river and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking, cross country skiing, and snowshoeing. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
This beautiful trail starts at the North Fork Trailhead within the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The route can also be accessed via Lone Mountain Ranch. If you're looking to extend your hike, you could continue past the turnaround spot on this route, and hike to Bear Basin or Summit Lake. These routes can also be found on AllTrails.
February 13, 2021
November 1, 2020Confusing to get to the trailhead (sign said road was closed for XC trail maintenance), so we walked from Lone Mountain Ranch (almost 2 extra miles to the trailhead). There were a couple of cars at the trailhead when we arrived, though. Hike was a relatively flat, wooded walk. No real viewpoints, but pretty all the same. Also very quiet, only saw 2 other parties the whole time. Despite other reviews, I found the trail very easy to follow (look for small wooden signs).
October 29, 2020October 14, 2020really tricky to find but gorgeous along the way!
October 11, 2020Such an incredible way to start the morning. Gorgeous hike during a snowstorm. Only saw two other parties and was otherwise on my own.
October 9, 2020Pretty hike. A little challenging to find and stay on the trail, but once you do it’s great. Most helpful directions were to go passed Horn and Cantle and then toward river. Always keep the river close by. Horse manure and mosquitoes no problem this time of year. We were staying in town so this was easy to get to and a great way to get outside for two hours. The Lone Mountain Ranch is an interesting, impressive property and nice start/end point.
October 4, 2020Nice trail, very pretty meadows and views of the mountains towards the end. To find the trail, just head up towards Horn and Cantle from the parking lot, then keep going northwest between that and the cabins.
October 4, 2020There’s no trail by this name... it’s North Fork Trail. Walking Jim only appears on a sign for private ski runs that must be used in the winter. Good trail, but the river will tease you - you’ll hear it downhill - until close to the end. I stopped at a bridge where the planks appeared to be rotting, so I didn’t want to cross.
September 23, 2020Starts out on a ATV trail and threw private property. It eventually turns into a nice wooded trail. Hiked past the beehive Junction on to the bear canyon/North fork trail. Didn’t have time to make it to lakes but a pretty hike! Gradual incline over 5 miles up before turning around. Creeks running water all the way up.
September 22, 2020August 17, 2020Cute & simple. Be sure to turn back on the path at the big meadow in the end. There’s a loop that’s hard to see off to the left along the water. Worth taking if you want a little adventure.
August 15, 2020Amazing through hike past mirror and summit lakes with lots of elevation gain
August 15, 2020Barely marked; got lost multiple times. Had to contend with horses and construction machines. Truly bizarre. Would not recommend.
August 7, 2020Hard to find trailhead. Not worth the hike. Very buggy.
August 6, 2020Great, easy trail. A little muddy, and the lower loop trail was hard to find, but the upper part of the loop was well traveled.
August 2, 2020This was an easy walk on a clear path but there were lots of rocks in the road and several patches of mud. There were also several large patches of road apples left behind by horses that had recently been in the area. The mosquitos were ginormous and aggressive! Not a bad walk but nothing overly special either. Very little change in scenery throughout.
July 23, 2020Good trail once you find the trailhead and get past the more heavily trafficked horse trail which attracts more bugs. Starting from Lone Mountain Ranch, it’s mostly covered in the trees and goes along the river. From the parking lot, go uphill and past the horses. If you see the ropes course you are moving in the right direction. Follow any trail somewhat close to the river and they will come together as you go up river. You can continue as long as you want.
July 10, 2020Recommend. Pretty. Even better to go additional 3 miles to saddle and alpine lake.
July 5, 2020July 3, 2020North Fork Trail is well marked and very nice. If you take the Lazy Jim’s fork to the right, it is very wet and difficult to follow the trail. I don’t recommend that section. I would just go out and back on North Fork. Wildflowers were beautiful. Lots of big mosquitos. July, 2020
June 23, 2020It was a little confusing where this trail actually was. I think we walked North Fork trail and I’m not sure if that’s the same. Very pretty down by the river in the meadow.
June 14, 2020Easy trail - some goods views of meadows but double track trail. Interesting trailhead at the top of the loop
June 9, 2020It’s a weird beginning to the hike. Directions take you to a private property. I did it off season but I wouldn’t park there if someone was in the houses. It’s a fairly easy hike in the forest. I wouldn’t describe it as moderate. There’s no views but you hike along the stream which is nice. The end is non eventful. It’s a OK hike but there’s so many better ones in the area.
May 18, 2020Could not find trail head was not well marked. It was pretty but not worth the drive.
