South Gallatins

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Total Zones
3

Publisher

Beacon Guidebooks

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South Gallatins Overview

The southern Gallatin's span the northwest corner of Wyoming into southern Montana and can be a hard place to reach in the winter. Due to that limited access, only the Montana portion of the southern Gallatin's are covered in this guide. However, the rest of the range should not be overlooked by the wilderness-motivated skier. While Ramshorn and Electric Peaks are accessible as day trips, they are both quite big days. For those still looking for a wilderness experience, but wanting a shorter day, look towards Big Horn Peak. Sections of each covered peak lies within Custer-Gallatin National Forest, with Electric and Big Horn being mostly within Yellowstone National Park. Please ensure you purchase a park pass before entering the park, even if you are not traveling through a park entry gate.

Zones Covered

Big Horn Peak
Routes
3
ATES Level
2
General Aspect
SW,S
When the avalanche hazard is elevated, but you still want to get up high and enjoy the views, this is an excellent option. Big Horn Peak sits on the northwest border of Yellowstone National Park, offering another classic southern Gallatin slog and views to match. It's a shorter day than Ramshorn or Electric, but will still feel like a long walk when compared to the amount of skiing available. Some maps mark the summit of Big Horn as the 3rd tallest point of the Big Horn massif, near where the Park Service has erected a YNP boundary sign. If you follow a brief knife edge ridge east, you will reach the true high point, which is noted as the summit on the map provided.
Routes
  • Southwest Trees
  • Groove Tube
  • Big Horn Peak Approach
Plan Your Trip
Electric Peak
Routes
5
ATES Level
4
General Aspect
N,NE,E,SE
Electric Peak is the tallest mountain in the Gallatin Range and its 'Dogleg Couloir' is proudly visible from Gardiner, Montana. Any way you come at Electric will be a burly single-day endeavor. The author prefers Bettie Gulch because it offers quicker elevation gain, less time in the trees, and more diverse skiing options. However, the Mammoth Hot Springs approach is equally as rewarding: run-ins with wolves, bison, elk and moose would not be out of the ordinary in the meadows of Glen Creek and Cache Lake. The Beattie Gulch Approach will start in the Custer-Gallatin National Forest, but will quickly put you in Yellowstone National Park, where the entire Mammoth Hot Springs Approach lies. Please ensure that you purchase a park pass.
Routes
  • Electric Peak Approach
  • North Summit
  • Electric Peak Approach (Bike Option)
  • Reese Creek Exit
  • Dogleg Couloir
Plan Your Trip
Ramshorn Peak
Routes
5
ATES Level
3
General Aspect
S,SE
Another Gallatin Range summit that is better suited for those who enjoy long walks with a wilderness experience over steep skiing. This route has two methods of approach: one from Tom Miner Basin and the other from US-191. The Tom Miner approach is easier and better for skiing the south bowl. A snowmobile will shorten the approach by 4.5 miles (the distance between the county plow line and the Petrified Forest Trailhead), making it a significantly shorter day.
Routes
  • South Bowl
  • Unplowed Road (Tom Miner - A)
  • Ramshorn Ascent (Tom Miner -A)
  • Unplowed Road (Ranch 320 - B)
  • Ramshorn Ascent (Ranch 320 - B)
Plan Your Trip