Gunsight Pass Road — Bob Marshall Wilderness South Fork to Spotted Bear via Flathead Divide
Where the pavement quits and the Bob begins.
Spotted Bear Ranger Station sits at the end of pavement, and from there Forest Road 568 takes over — a legitimate backcountry gravel road punching northeast along the South Fork of the Flathead River toward the Bob Marshall Wilderness boundary. The road follows the river bottom before climbing toward Gunsight Pass, crossing Spotted Bear River at a ford that can run thigh-deep in June, and threading through old-growth larch and fir that haven’t seen a chainsaw in decades. The wilderness boundary is a hard stop for vehicles, but the drive to that point is reward enough — canyon walls, wildlife corridors, and zero traffic beyond the first few miles.
This is not a trail for stock SUVs. High clearance and 4WD are non-negotiable, and the river ford demands scouting before you commit. Skid plates and a recovery kit are standard gear. Best window is late July through September — spring runoff makes the ford impassable and the road a mudslide. No permit required for the drive itself, but dispersed camping along FR 568 is first-come. Spotted Bear has a Forest Service guard station but no services — fuel up in Hungry Horse. Cell service dies at the pavement end. This is grizzly country; act accordingly.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Mixed |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 28 mi / 45.1 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 6200 ft |
| Best season | Late July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with skid plates |
| Nearest town | Hungry Horse, MT |
| Land manager | Flathead National Forest — Spotted Bear Ranger District |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner run Gunsight Pass Road, or do I need a built rig?
A stock Tacoma or 4Runner with factory skid plates can handle it, but you need true high-clearance 4WD — not AWD or a lifted crossover. Rocks, rutted clay, and shelf road sections will punish anything lower than 8–9 inches of clearance, and a locker helps on the wet stuff near the divide.
When does Gunsight Pass Road actually open each year, and is snow still an issue in early July?
Late July through September is the reliable window — the Flathead Divide holds snow well into summer and the road sits in shadow long enough to stay soft and dangerous after melt. Check current conditions directly with the Spotted Bear Ranger District before you roll; early-season trips have ended in stuck rigs at the upper switchbacks.
Do I need a permit or pay any fees to drive Gunsight Pass Road?
No permit or fee is required to drive the road itself — it's Flathead National Forest, managed by the Spotted Bear Ranger District. If you're entering the adjacent Bob Marshall Wilderness on foot or horseback, different rules apply, but motorized vehicles stay outside the wilderness boundary.
What's the hardest section and what should I actually expect there?
The approach to the Flathead Divide is where it gets serious — narrow shelf road, loose rock, and off-camber exposure with limited room to recover if you drift. Wet conditions turn the clay sections greasy fast, and there's no bailout once you're committed on the upper switchbacks, so if weather rolls in, that's the section that'll make the decision for you.
How far is the nearest gas from the trailhead, and is there water I can filter on-trail?
Hungry Horse is your last fuel stop — about 55 miles from the Spotted Bear end of the trail, so top off there and carry a spare. Water is available from the South Fork Flathead River and several tributary crossings on-route, all of which should be filtered or treated before drinking.
Trail track
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