Snowcrest Trail #4 follows the crest of the Snowcrest Mountains for approximately 43 miles. The route is a remote long-distance journey along grassy ridges with expansive views and rarely visited backcountry singletrack in dense forest. The southern trailhead is at Antone Guard Station east of Dillon, Montana. The northern trailhead is at the junction of Lewis Creek FS road 952 (closed to motorized traffic) and Upper Ruby Road (FS road 100)--just north of Vigilante Guard Station.
The southern end of the Snowcrest Trail heads east initially along the southern aspect of Antone Peak, until it gains the main crest along which large cairns and posts lead the way north for several miles. Completely exposed above the treeline, and over 9000 ft elevation, the ridge allows for views of the Gravelly, Tobacco Root, and Madison ranges to the east, the Pioneers to the west, and the Centennial Mountains to the south. Elk and mountain goats inhabit the high alpine parks and ridges. The ridgeline route also includes a visit to the summit of Stonehouse Mountain at 10,075ft before dropping into Honeymoon Park on its way to the Notch–a saddle at 15-miles into the journey–between Hogback and Sunset peaks.
While much of the trail is marked well with signs and blazes, the route sees very little traffic north of the Notch, and can be tricky to find at times as it heads past the West Fork of Ruby River, over Ledford Pass and down into Devils Hole at the Base of Spur and Sliderock mountains. After following the west side of Spur Mountain, the trail again crests the ridge for one last summit–Snowcrest Mountain–before descending down to the terminus at Lewis Creek Road.
Note: The portion of the original FS Snowcrest Trail #4 that historically headed into Peterson Basin along Middle Creek has fallen into disuse, and instead the trail stays along the ridge between West and Middle creeks.
