Elkhorn Skyline Mine 4x4 Trail near Boulder, Montana | Trail Guide

MONTANA 4x4 TRAIL GUIDE · MT-0004

Elkhorn Skyline Mine

Skyline Mine · Leslie Lake · Elkhorn ghost town · Elkhorn Mountains near Boulder, Montana

3/10AGF Difficulty · Easy

~18 MIApproach from Boulder (USFS, county); route length unconfirmed

PRIVATETown is private land

FWP · USFSState park · Butte RD (verify)

PRIVATE TOWN, AN UNCONFIRMED MINE ROAD AND A POSSIBLE OCT. 15 CLOSURE. Elkhorn State Park is open all year (FWP), but only Fraternity Hall and Gilliam Hall are public (FWP). The rest of Elkhorn is privately owned (FWP), and some cabins are occupied by permanent residents: do not trespass, stay on public roads, and do not camp in Elkhorn or within walking distance of it (FWP). AGF has not confirmed the Skyline Mine road's route number, vehicle class or season: the Beaverhead-Deerlodge posts no current Elkhorns MVUM, so do not rely on onX vehicle labels. The 1995 Elkhorns travel plan uses seasonal motorized closures, including Oct. 15–Dec. 1 and Oct. 15–May 15; whether they cover this route is unconfirmed, so it may close to motor vehicles from Oct. 15, 2026. Call the Butte Ranger District (406-494-2147) before you go. The EPA warns of elevated arsenic, lead, cadmium and zinc around the Elkhorn Mining District: stay off mine tailings, do not use stream water even if filtered, and wash dirt off clothes, pets and gear before you leave. Stay out of any mine opening or old structure. Jefferson County banned campfires on private land from Aug. 14, 2026 (Stage 1, per the Whitehall Ledger, secondary news); whether that has been lifted is unconfirmed. The "Elkhorn Mine Area" closure on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge is in the Pioneer Mountains and does not apply here. Read Know Before You Go.

OLD AGF RUN: AGF last drove this route on June 3, 2018. onX (secondary) gives the same 3/10 difficulty, but AGF has not rechecked the route, and its current motorized line is not mapped.

WHAT THIS GUIDE COVERS

Skyline Mine, Leslie Lake and Elkhorn

One AGF route: the Skyline Mine road in the Elkhorn Mountains, the Leslie Lake overlook (a short walk from the mine and cabin per AGF's record, not a separate motorized route) and the Elkhorn ghost town. onX (secondary) lists the Skyline Mine Trail at 6.6 miles and the Skyline Mine Spur at 3.7 miles; AGF has not confirmed the start point or total length.

NOT INCLUDED: private lots and buildings in Elkhorn, mine workings, driving to Leslie Lake (walk from the mine area), and side routes not confirmed open to motor vehicles.

WHY 3/10

Easy · Bumpy and Brushy

AGF rates a trail by its hardest unavoidable obstacle in normal dry conditions. onX (secondary) also rates the Skyline Mine Trail 3 and describes a bumpy, rocky road with a few larger but easy rocks, shallow water crossings, steep grades and narrow brushy sections that can pinstripe larger vehicles. AGF's rating dates from its June 3, 2018 run. Deep snow can block the upper trail in late spring and early summer (onX), and downed timber is possible.

Rock

2/5

Mud

2/5

Water

1/5

Exposure

2/5

Snow

4/5

Pinstriping

3/5

Snow, mud, runoff, deadfall and fire are condition changes, not part of the base rating.

ROUTE & MAP

Getting There

From Boulder, take MT-69 south about 6–7 miles and turn left (east) at the Elkhorn sign onto Forest Road 258 (White Bridge Lane). The Forest Service says to continue about 12 miles on gravel to Elkhorn; the Elkhorn Picnic Area is on the right just before town. Jefferson County describes it this way: cross the Boulder River, continue right about 3 miles, keep left at the first junction, then turn left onto Elkhorn Road for about 8 miles into Elkhorn. Watch for ATVs, motorcycles and other OHVs on the road (USFS). onX (secondary) shows the Skyline Mine Spur leaving Elkhorn Road near Tacoma Gulch; that turn and its mileage are unverified.

LOADING MAP…

FWP Elkhorn State Park →Beaverhead-Deerlodge alerts →ROUTE FILE: not published yet

The pin marks Elkhorn State Park (812 Elkhorn St., FWP coordinate). It is not the Skyline Mine trailhead, which AGF has not verified. No downloadable track is published: the current motorized route has not been mapped.

VEHICLE FIT

Rig Requirements

Stock 4x4: Yes
High clearance: Recommended
Tires: Stock
Rear locker: No
Front locker: No
Winch: No
Full-size: Limited
Body damage: Low risk

A stock 4x4 with high clearance fits the 3/10 rating; lockers and a winch are not needed. Narrow, brushy sections bring pinstriping and tight maneuvering for larger vehicles. Legal vehicle class is unconfirmed. Carry a saw for downed timber.

TRIP PLANNING

Know Before You Go

Season: Summer and fall; possible motorized closure from Oct. 15 (verify)
Typical trip: Half to full day
Camping: None in or within walking distance of Elkhorn (FWP); elsewhere unknown, verify
Trailer parking: Unknown; verify
Turnaround: Unknown; verify

Bring all drinking, cooking and washing water: the EPA advises against using stream water even if filtered, and Elkhorn Creek is listed as impaired for metals. The EPA suggests masks on off-road trails.
Elkhorn State Park is pack-in, pack-out.
Food storage: no food storage order covering this part of the Elkhorns was found (the Beaverhead-Deerlodge and Region 1 orders exclude it). Store food securely anyway; black bears are present (onX).
Butte Ranger District order 01020425-01 bans burning pallets or construction debris with nails or metal hardware, through Jan. 31, 2030.
Fire restrictions on FWP lands in Jefferson County were lifted Sept. 8, 2026 (Montana Right Now, secondary news); check current restrictions before any campfire.
The Elkhorn Picnic Area is open May 1 to mid-September, weather permitting (USFS).
Which national forest district manages the Skyline Mine and Leslie Lake end is unconfirmed (Beaverhead-Deerlodge Butte RD or Helena-Lewis and Clark), and so is whether any of the mine and cabin site is on private mining claims. Treat structures as off limits.

SOURCES

Sources & Review

Montana FWP: Elkhorn State Park (open all year; private property, no trespass; no camping; 406-577-7894; park coordinates)
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF: Elkhorn Picnic Area (MT-69 and FS Road 258 directions; Butte RD 406-494-2147; OHV traffic)
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF alerts (checked Oct. 8, 2026; no alert for Elkhorn or Skyline Mine)
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF: Elkhorn Mill and Mine Area Closure (Pioneer Mountains near Coolidge; does not apply here)
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF travel management maps (no Elkhorns MVUM posted)
Elkhorns travel Supplemental Information Report (2007) (1995 plan closure categories, incl. Oct. 15–Dec. 1 and Oct. 15–May 15; no route-level detail)
Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF annual food storage order (excludes the Elkhorn Mountains portion of Butte RD)
Region 1 food storage order R1-2023-02 (also excludes the Elkhorns within Butte RD)
Butte Ranger District pallet prohibition order (Jan. 31, 2025–Jan. 31, 2030)
Helena-Lewis and Clark NF alerts (checked Oct. 8, 2026; no Elkhorn alert)
Jefferson County: Elkhorn winter guide (White Bridge Lane and Elkhorn Road directions; undated)
EPA: Elkhorn Mining District Site (metals, tailings and water advisories; updated Aug. 20, 2026)
onX Offroad: Skyline Mine Trail (secondary; 6.6 mi, rated 3, hazards)
onX Offroad: Skyline Mine Spur (secondary; 3.7 mi from Elkhorn Road near Tacoma Gulch)
Whitehall Ledger: Jefferson County private-land fire restrictions (secondary news; Stage 1 on private land from Aug. 14, 2026)
Montana Right Now: FWP Jefferson County fire restrictions lifted (secondary news; lifted Sept. 8, 2026 on FWP lands)

Last reviewed Oct. 8, 2026. No closure found for the town or the mine road, but the road's legal status is unconfirmed and a seasonal closure may start Oct. 15. AGF last drove it on June 3, 2018.

AGF ratings describe normal, dry-condition difficulty. They do not mean a route is legal, open or passable today. Spot something out of date? Use the Contact page.