Hellroaring Plateau

Total Miles
7.4

Elevation

3,003.08 ft

Duration

1.5 Hours

Technical Rating

4

Moderate

Best Time

Summer

Show in App
Hellroaring Plateau 10

Trail Overview

Hellroaring Road is a 4x4 trail located in the Custer Gallatin National Forest outside Red Lodge, Montana near the base of the Beartooth Highway. The trail is out and back, about 6 miles long each way, and takes about 1.5hr to reach the top. It is not particularly technical but very rocky and narrow in some areas. In these narrow areas, you or your passengers may be looking straight down the mountainside! The trail is Forest Service Road 2004 or Hellroaring Rd on Google Maps. The Motor Vehicle Use Map for this area is Custer Gallatin National Forest South Beartooth Front. The trail is open to all types of off-road vehicles, including motorcycles, ATVs, and 4x4s, although according to the MVUM, open to "Highway legal vehicles only." Due to sharp turns and the narrow sections, a full-size pickup truck or long-wheel base full-size SUV is not recommended, regardless of ground clearance. The trail begins at the Hellroaring Road Trailhead, which is located off Highway 212. The Hellroaring Road trail is a great way to experience the wilderness of Montana. The trail offers stunning views of nearby Beartooth Highway and the surrounding mountains and valleys.

Photos of Hellroaring Plateau

Hellroaring Plateau
Hellroaring Plateau
Hellroaring Plateau

Difficulty

This is a very bumpy route with continuous rocky terrain and many sharp rocks along the way.

Technical Rating

4

Status Reports

Michael Schoenike
Apr 15, 2024
2020 Jeep Wrangler
Open
Mostly clear for the first two and a half miles or so. Snow starts getting deeper just before you arrive at the washed out bridge at almost 3 miles up the road. (The bridge itself is actually fine but the far bank is completely washed out leaving about a 30 foot impassable gap.)
Daniel Jones
Feb 10, 2024
2000 Ford F-Series Super Duty
Open
Snow/Ice
snow at the start of the trail was only about a couple of inches and had a few tire tracks already. about 1 mile in the snow gradually got deaper up the hill and about 2.5 miles in the snow was between 18 and 24 inchss not impassable but would require big tires or a couple of vehicles in case some one got stuck, or a little bit more time in the day
Cameron Teerink
Sep 02, 2023
SxS
Obstructed
Impassable Water Crossing
Other

Access Description

Turn off Highway 212 at the sign that says "Campgrounds" just before starting up Beartooth Highway. Continue past Parkside, Greenough, and Limber Pine campgrounds. The start of the trail is just past Limber Pine Campground. If you need to unload your toys, there is parking just past the start of the trail at 45.061894, -109.409777 (45deg03'42.8"N 109deg24'35.2"W). Consider downloading offline maps before you go. Be prepared for changing weather. Do not expect cell service, even at the top of the mountain.

Popular Trails

Johnson Peak Trailhead

Johnson Peak Trailhead

Total Miles
5.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Meeteetse Trail

Meeteetse Trail

Total Miles
17.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Hegben Lake Trail

Hegben Lake Trail

Total Miles
8.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Storm Castle to Line Creek Rd

Storm Castle to Line Creek Rd

Total Miles
12.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Go Farther

Try onX Offroad Elite for free for a week — no strings attached. Get access to thousands of off-road dirt trails and snowmobile trails across the nation. View your favorite zones in 3D. Send trails to friends. Start planning the trip of a lifetime now.