Miller Creek Road (FS 3228) near Cooke City, Montana | Trail Guide

MONTANA 4x4 TRAIL GUIDE · MT-0047

Miller Creek Road (FS 3228)

Forest Road 3228 from Cooke City up to Daisy Pass Road · also called Miller Road or Town Hill · Cooke City, Montana

4/10AGF Difficulty · Moderate · estimate; no record of AGF driving it

3.7 MIOne way (2023 MVUM copy; Park County GIS 3.708)

CLOSED DEC 2–JUNE 15FS 3228 open to motor vehicles June 16–Dec. 1 only (2023 MVUM copy; check the 2026 MVUM)

USFSGardiner Ranger District

FS 3228 IS LISTED AS OPEN TO MOTOR VEHICLES ONLY JUNE 16–DEC. 1, THE LOWER ROAD CLIMBS THROUGH PRIVATE RESIDENTIAL LOTS, AND THIS ROAD DOES NOT GO TO MILLER MOUNTAIN. FS 3228 "MILLER CREEK" is "Special Designation, Seasonal," open June 16–Dec. 1 to highway vehicles, ATVs, motorcycles and other wheeled OHVs, maintenance level 2, native surface, in a 2023 copy of the FS MVUM layer; the 2006 Gallatin travel plan lists "MILLER CREEK ROAD #3228" with a motorized closure "Dec 2 - Jun 15." Check the dates on the 2026 Absaroka Beartooth East MVUM or with the Gardiner Ranger District (406-848-7375). In the same 2023 data, OHVs wider than 50 inches (most side-by-sides that are not street-legal) are not listed as allowed on FS 3228: verify on the 2026 MVUM. Private property: onX (secondary) says the road climbs "through a sparse residential area" above town, and a 2025 onX report describes a house in the middle of the trail (paraphrase). Parcel data was not checked: verify. Stay on the road; do not park, camp or turn around in driveways or on private land. The road ends at county Daisy Pass Road (Park County 2025 GIS); it does not go to Miller Mountain. Do not use connectors or spurs that are not shown on the MVUM: the 2006 travel plan lists the "MILLER/DAISY PASS ATV/MTN CONNECT" as closed yearlong to passenger cars and high-clearance vehicles. Narrow, deteriorated shelf road: onX (secondary) says "The trail has deteriorated, is narrower and looser than it used to be," with little passing or turnaround room (AGF record). Mine history: the Forest Service's 2012 New World report describes a Miller Creek response action that removed two of the larger mine dumps (report for the FS, 2012). Do not disturb reclamation work or enter any workings. Snow and avalanches: Gallatin avalanche center observation titles mention avalanches on Town Hill (GNFAC, secondary, Mar. 11, 2023). Do not drive the road while it is snow-covered. US-212 from Cooke City (Cooke City–Pilot Creek) is open to wheeled vehicles "mid-May through early November" (NPS). NPS (updated Oct. 9, 2026) says the Beartooth Highway over the pass is scheduled to close for the season Oct. 12, 2026. MVUM dates and classes on this page come from a 2023 copy of the Forest Service MVUM layer plus the 2006 Gallatin travel plan, because the Forest Service's live MVUM data has no Gardiner Ranger District roads (checked Oct. 12, 2026): check them against the 2026 MVUM before you go. Official closures, posted signs and private property override this guide. Call the Gardiner Ranger District (406-848-7375) and Park County Road & Bridge (406-222-4137) before you go, and read Know Before You Go.

NO RECORD OF AGF DRIVING MILLER CREEK ROAD. THIS 4/10 IS AN ESTIMATE FROM OFFICIAL AND SECONDARY SOURCES. No record of AGF driving this route. AGF's GPS archive (274 tracks) shows no track on FS 3228 (checked Oct. 12, 2026). Everything here comes from official sources, plus clearly labeled secondary sources. AGF will re-rate it after an AGF run.

WHAT THIS GUIDE COVERS

Cooke City to Daisy Pass Road

Forest Road 3228 from the north end of River Street in Cooke City up the switchbacks north of town to county Daisy Pass Road: 3.7 miles one way (2023 MVUM copy; Park County 2025 GIS gives 3.708), about 7.4 miles round trip. It is a Forest Service road, not a county road (Park County GIS: "Not a County Road"). Locally it is called Miller Road or Town Hill (AGF record; source not re-found: verify), and onX (secondary) calls it Miller Mountain Road. At the top it joins county Daisy Pass Road (about 45.0370, -109.9405), which has no MVUM season; return the same way or down Daisy Pass Road to US-212.

NOT INCLUDED: Miller Mountain (the road does not go there), any connector or spur not shown on the MVUM (including the 2006 Miller/Daisy Pass ATV connector), Daisy Pass Road above the junction, mine and reclamation sites, and any private land.

WHY 4/10

Moderate · Steep, Loose, Deteriorated Shelf Road

NO RECORD OF AGF DRIVING THIS ROUTE: the 4/10 is AGF's estimate, not an AGF run. AGF rates a trail by its hardest unavoidable obstacle in normal dry conditions. Here that is the steep, loose, rutted shelf: onX (secondary, rated 4) describes "a 1 lane dirt shelf road," and says "The road is only somewhat maintained with potholes and loose rock." A July 17, 2025 onX report says, "Definitely lots of steep technical sections of ruts, loose rocks, and boulders," and a Sept. 15, 2024 report says, "This is absolutely not a 3 out of 10 trail, the trail has been completely deteriorated." No locker- or winch-level obstacle is documented. The July 2025 reporter suggested driving it downhill because of the steep loose rock (paraphrase). Snow, mud and deadfall are condition changes, not part of the base rating.

Rock

4/5

Mud

2/5

Water

1/5

Exposure

4/5

Snow

5/5

Pinstriping

3/5

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

ROUTE & MAP

Getting There

In Cooke City, take River Street (a Park County road) north from the town grid to its end at about 45.0212, -109.9352, where FS 3228 begins (Park County 2025 GIS). The exact street link from US-212 to River Street: verify on site. Follow FS 3228 up the switchbacks about 3.7 miles to county Daisy Pass Road at about 45.0370, -109.9405. Return the same way, or turn downhill on Daisy Pass Road to US-212 just east of town. Stay on FS 3228 and Daisy Pass Road; do not take connectors that are not on the MVUM.

LOADING MAP…

Custer Gallatin alerts →Absaroka Beartooth East MVUM →ROUTE FILE: not published yet

The pin marks the start of FS 3228 at the north end of River Street in Cooke City (Park County 2025 GIS; county GIS, not a survey; not field-checked). The road ends at county Daisy Pass Road near 45.0370, -109.9405 (same source). No downloadable track is published.

VEHICLE FIT

Rig Requirements

Stock 4x4: Yes — capable stock 4x4; high clearance preferred
High clearance: Recommended
Tires: 31-inch minimum
Rear locker: No
Front locker: No
Winch: Recommended (AGF record: steep loose sections, limited recovery room); no winch-level obstacle is documented
Full-size: Limited
Body damage: Moderate-high risk

When FS 3228 is open: a high-clearance, low-range-capable 4x4 on good 31-inch-class A/T tires, with a full-size spare, rated recovery points, a saw, offline navigation and recovery gear (AGF record). Lockers are not baseline. A winch or partner vehicle is recommended for the steep loose sections and limited recovery room (AGF record). Shorter, narrower rigs are preferred: one-lane shelf tread, logs and deadfall, and minimal pull-outs make full-size and long-wheelbase rigs a poor fit (AGF record). Not for OHVs wider than 50 inches unless the 2026 MVUM allows them.

TRIP PLANNING

Know Before You Go

Season: FS 3228 open to motor vehicles June 16–Dec. 1; closed Dec. 2–June 15 (2023 MVUM copy and 2006 travel plan; check the 2026 MVUM). Snow-free window about July–September (AGF research estimate; verify)
Typical trip: Half day (AGF record estimate)
Camping: Limited; verify site rules and private land (AGF record)
Trailers: Stage in Cooke City (AGF record)
Turnaround: Limited; minimal pull-outs (AGF record)

Hunting season: Montana's general deer and elk season runs Oct. 24–Nov. 29, 2026 (FWP). Expect hunters, camps and parked vehicles; wear blaze orange outside the vehicle. Archery season runs to Oct. 18. A youth deer hunt runs Oct. 15–16 (FWP).
Grizzly country: Custer Gallatin food storage order 01-11-00-23-02 applies on the Gardiner and Beartooth Ranger Districts, Mar. 1–Dec. 1.
No Custer Gallatin alert named Cooke City, Miller, Town Hill, Daisy or New World on Oct. 12, 2026 (Gardiner fire danger Moderate). Recheck before you go.
Contacts: Gardiner Ranger District (406-848-7375), 805 Scott St., Gardiner (FS 3228 and the 2026 MVUM); Park County Road & Bridge (406-222-4137) for River Street and Daisy Pass Road.

SOURCES

Sources & Review

MVUM roads, 2023 copy of the FS S_USA.Road_MVUM layer (secondary copy (non-FS host), last edited Aug. 2, 2023; FS 3228 MILLER CREEK, 0–3.7 mi, "Special Designation, Seasonal," 06/16–12/01, ML2, native, Gardiner RD; >50-in OHV classes blank; recheck on the 2026 MVUM)
FS EDW MVUM roads (live) (official; read Oct. 12, 2026; contains no Gardiner Ranger District roads)
Gallatin NF Travel Plan (2006), Cooke City Travel Area table (official FS; "MILLER CREEK ROAD #3228" motorized closure "Dec 2 - Jun 15"; "MILLER/DAISY PASS ATV/MTN CONNECT" passenger car and high clearance closed yearlong)
Absaroka Beartooth East MVUM (2026, PDF) (official map; must be read visually (text extraction does not tie dates to roads))
Park County road-maintenance map (2025, county GIS) (official county GIS, not the legal road book; FS MILLER CREEK, "FEDERAL - USFS", "Not a County Road", 3.708 mi, from River St (about 45.0212, -109.9352) to Daisy Pass Rd (about 45.0370, -109.9405); pin coordinate)
Park County Roads & Bridges (Livingston shop 406-222-4137; County Roads map linked from the page)
onX Offroad: Miller Mountain Road (secondary (crowd); 3.7 mi; rated 4; terrain and residential-area description; reports Sept. 15, 2024, July 17, 2025 and Aug. 13, 2025)
USFS: New World Mining District Response and Restoration Project, 2011 Summary (Jan. 2012) (official; prepared by Tetra Tech for the USFS; Miller Creek response action: removal of two of the larger dumps)
GNFAC: Natural avalanches, Town Hill and Silver Gate (secondary (avalanche center); observation "Natural avalanches, Town Hill and Silver Gate," Mar. 11, 2023)
Custer Gallatin NF alerts (checked Oct. 12, 2026; nothing on this route; fire danger Moderate)
Custer Gallatin food storage order 01-11-00-23-02 (Gardiner and Beartooth RDs; Mar. 1–Dec. 1)
Custer Gallatin NF: Gardiner Ranger District (805 Scott St., Gardiner; 406-848-7375)
NPS Yellowstone: park roads (updated Oct. 9, 2026; Beartooth Highway "Scheduled to close for the season Monday, October 12"; Cooke City–Pilot Creek "open to wheeled vehicles mid-May through early November")
Montana FWP: Hunting seasons (2026 deer/elk archery Sept. 5–Oct. 18; youth deer Oct. 15–16; general Oct. 24–Nov. 29)

Last reviewed Oct. 12, 2026. No alert names the road, but FS 3228 is listed as open to motor vehicles only June 16–Dec. 1 (2023 MVUM copy and 2006 travel plan; check the 2026 MVUM), the lower road climbs through private residential lots, and the shelf road has deteriorated. There is no record of AGF driving Miller Creek Road; the 4/10 is an estimate from official and secondary sources.

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.