Guides/Overland routes/Montana
Overland route54 midifficulty: easy

Skalkaho Pass Road

RegionMontanaAgencyU.S. Forest ServiceLast verified—
Skalkaho Pass Road — overland route near Hamilton, Montana, Montana
Photo by Schmiebel via Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0
Trail vitals6 facts
Length
54mi
Technical difficulty
Easy
Direction
Point to point
Vehicle
Any high-clearance vehicle in summer. Trailers manageable but slow. The middle section is single-lane gravel with limited pullouts.
Best months
Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct
Cell coverage
None on the gravel section; service returns near Hamilton and Philipsburg.
Take action
Plan in Epic PlansOpen in Google MapsOfficial site

Skalkaho Pass Road, MT-38, runs 54 miles between Hamilton in the Bitterroot Valley and MT-1 north of Philipsburg, crossing the Bitterroot-Anaconda divide at 7,260 feet on Bitterroot National Forest. The middle 23 miles are gravel and unmaintained in winter; the outer ends are paved. The road is one of the few summer-only crossings of the Sapphire Mountains and an alternative to US-93 between the Bitterroot and the Pintler country.

Most drivers run the road in two to three hours, longer with stops at Skalkaho Falls or for fishing in Rock Creek. The gravel section closes from late October to late May with snow. There are no technical obstacles, but the single-lane shelf segments require yielding to oncoming traffic.

Hazards

Read before you go

  • Seasonal closures. The gravel section closes from late October through late May with snow.
  • Single-lane shelf segments. Below the pass on the west side, the road narrows with limited pullouts. Yield to descending traffic.
  • Wildlife. Elk, moose, and black bears cross at all hours.
  • Slick when wet. The gravel turns slick after rain or in late-season snow squalls.
  • No services on the road. Carry water, fuel, and a spare tire.

Location

54 mi · Overland route

Approx. location 46.232, -113.765

Trail facts

5 fields
AgencyU.S. Forest Service
Nearest townHamilton, Montana
Websitewww.fs.usda.gov/r01/bitterroot
ClosedNov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May
Approx. location46.232, -113.765

Getting there

Directions

From Hamilton (west entrance). Take US-93 to Hamilton, then turn east on MT-38 / Skalkaho Highway. The pavement ends about thirteen miles in.

From Philipsburg / MT-1 (east entrance). From MT-1 about six miles north of Philipsburg, turn west on MT-38 / Skalkaho Highway. The pavement ends near the Rock Creek headwaters.

Photos

1 photo

Photos · 1

Field notes

Getting Oriented

The road climbs east out of the Bitterroot Valley near Hamilton, crests Skalkaho Pass at 7,260 feet, and drops to the Rock Creek drainage on the east side, ending at MT-1 north of Philipsburg. Bitterroot National Forest's Stevensville Ranger District manages the corridor on the west side; the east side falls under Beaverhead-Deerlodge's Pintler Ranger District at the upper end.

Trail Overview

Fifty-four miles, point-to-point. About thirteen miles paved on the west end, twenty-three miles graded gravel through the middle, and the east end paved into the Rock Creek drainage. The gravel section narrows to single-lane on the cliff segments below the pass; pullouts are limited. There are no technical obstacles, but loaded trailers struggle with the single-lane stretches.

Points of Interest

  • Skalkaho Falls. A 150-foot cascade visible from a roadside pullout near the pass on the west side. One of the better roadside falls in western Montana.
  • Skalkaho Pass (7,260 ft). The crest. Pullouts and a primitive trail into the Sapphires.
  • Rock Creek. Blue-ribbon trout water on the eastern descent, paralleled by the road for several miles.
  • Philipsburg. Old mining town at the eastern end with restaurants, shops, and access to Granite ghost town and Discovery Ski Area.

Where to Camp

Several USFS campgrounds dot the route: Black Bear and Crystal Creek on the west, and the Rock Creek campgrounds near the eastern end. Dispersed camping is allowed off the main road on FS land with the standard 16-day stay. The Rock Creek corridor has heavy summer use; arrive early.

Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip

  • Check road status before driving. The gravel section closes from late October through late May. The Stevensville Ranger District (406-777-5461) holds current condition info.
  • The single-lane segments below Skalkaho Falls require yielding. Watch for descending traffic and use the pullouts.
  • Top off in Hamilton or Philipsburg. There is no fuel on the road.
  • Wildlife is abundant. Elk, moose, and black bears cross routinely.
  • The road pairs well with the Pintler Scenic Loop on the east side or the Lewis and Clark route through Lolo Pass on the west.

Frequently asked

Common questions

How difficult is Skalkaho Pass Road?
Skalkaho Pass Road is rated easy. The route runs 54 miles.
What kind of vehicle do you need for Skalkaho Pass Road?
Any high-clearance vehicle in summer. Trailers manageable but slow. The middle section is single-lane gravel with limited pullouts.
When is the best time to visit Skalkaho Pass Road?
The best months are Jun, Jul, Aug, Sep, Oct. Avoid Nov, Dec, Jan, Feb, Mar, Apr, May.
Is there cell service at Skalkaho Pass Road?
None on the gravel section; service returns near Hamilton and Philipsburg.