Elkhorn Drive — Deerlodge National Forest High Country Ridgeline
Silver ghosts and ridgeline solitude.
The Elkhorn Mountains don’t get the press of the Beartooths or the Bitterroots, but locals have been running this ridgeline road for decades. Departing from Radersburg on the east and pushing west toward Boulder, Forest Road 4 climbs into open subalpine country fast — Elkhorn ghost town sits at roughly 6,800 feet and still has standing structures from the silver boom of the 1880s. Beyond the townsite, the road narrows, crosses through Meadow Lake basin, and rewards patient drivers with unobstructed views across the upper Missouri River drainage.
The route is graded gravel for most of its length — high clearance is enough for the majority of it, but the upper connector spurs toward Crow Creek demand real 4WD when wet or snow-covered. Running it July through September gives you the best window; snow lingers in the saddles into June and storms roll in without warning by early October. No permit required, dispersed camping throughout the Deerlodge NF, and fuel up in Boulder or Townsend before you leave — there’s nothing in between. A quiet, underrated run that pays off hard at sunset.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 38 mi / 61.2 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7800 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Boulder, MT |
| Land manager | Deerlodge National Forest — Jefferson Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | USFS Jefferson Ranger District |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle Elkhorn Drive, or do I need a lifted rig?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner is fine for this trail under normal summer conditions. The route is mostly gravel and dirt two-track — nothing that requires a lift — but low-range is useful on steeper ridgeline pitches and after rain when the surface gets greasy.
When does Elkhorn Drive actually open each year, and what closes it?
July through September is your reliable window. Snowpack at 7,800 feet can linger into late June, and early fall storms can drop snow again by October. Check with the USFS Jefferson Ranger District before any shoulder-season run — gates can be closed without much public notice.
Do I need a permit or pay any fees to drive Elkhorn Drive?
No permit required and no day-use fee for the route itself. Dispersed camping in Deerlodge National Forest follows standard USFS rules — 16-day stay limit, 300 feet from water sources and roads, pack out everything. No fire restrictions are in place by default, but check current fire danger before you go because southwest Montana burns fast in late summer.
What's the hardest section of the trail and what should I actually expect?
The ridgeline segments near the higher elevation stretches are the most demanding — loose gravel on side-sloped terrain with exposure on one edge and no guardrails. Nothing technically extreme, but narrow shelf road conditions mean you need to be comfortable with limited passing room and no bailout if the weather rolls in fast, which it does up here.
There's zero cell service on this trail — how far is the nearest gas, and are the water crossings actual obstacles or just wet spots?
Fuel up in Boulder, MT before you go — there's no gas on the route and you're covering 38 miles of backcountry with no services. The water crossings are generally shallow seasonal drainages, not serious obstacles in July–September, but early-season runoff or a heavy rain event can change that quickly, so check conditions locally before committing.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.