Straight Creek
Straight Creek Trail is a 16.6-mile trail in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Montana. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking and horse and pack stock. It enters Scapegoat Wilderness and Bob Marshall Wilderness.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The forest office carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 47.4876° N, 112.8855° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 47.3293° N, 112.7278° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 5 segments.
The trail
| Length | 16.6 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | 212 |
| Forest | Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest (unit 0115) |
| States | Montana |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed 12/01 to 04/30 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 05/01 to 11/30 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Wilderness
- Scapegoat WildernessFS · about 83% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
- Bob Marshall WildernessFS · about 10% of the line is insideWilderness Connect ↗
Inside a designated wilderness, bicycles and motor vehicles are prohibited by law regardless of the trail record, and permits or group limits may apply.
Trailheads
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 23
31 mi from the trail midpoint · 115 acres
- PrescribedRx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 38
31 mi from the trail midpoint · 40 acres
- PrescribedRx D6 Seeley Creek Ski Trails
33 mi from the trail midpoint · 10 acres
- PrescribedArrowleaf Rx
35 mi from the trail midpoint · 50 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Straight Creek Trail?
The Forest Service records 16.6 miles under this name in Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, the sum of 5 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Straight Creek Trail?
Hiking and horse and pack stock are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Straight Creek Trail start?
The line begins at 47.4876° N, 112.8855° W and ends at 47.3293° N, 112.7278° W. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Straight Creek Trail in a wilderness area?
Yes. It enters Scapegoat Wilderness and Bob Marshall Wilderness. Wilderness rules ban bicycles and motor vehicles and often limit group size.
Source: Scapegoat Wilderness
Where can I camp near the Straight Creek Trail?
Benchmark Campground (0.2 mi), Van Deriet Campground (0.5 mi) and South Fork Campground (0.9 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 5 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Straight Creek Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Straight Creek Trail?
The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Straight Creek Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Straight Creek Trail a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Scenic or Historic Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Straight Creek Trail?
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, Forest Service unit 0115. The trail is in Montana.
Is there a fire near the Straight Creek Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx D6 Horseshoe West Unit 23 at 31 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 5 segments named Straight Creek in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0115. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.