upper portal
hyalite canyonTrail Stats
Distance: Varies
Difficulty: Moderate to Hard
Elevation Gain: Varies
Trail Type: Out and back
Estimated Time: Varies
Dog Friendly: Yes; carry bear spray
Parking / Access: Portal Creek Road off Hyalite Canyon Road; high-clearance vehicle recommended for the 6.8-mile access road
Best Season: Summer through fall; road conditions dependent
Trail Description:
Upper Portal is for the hikers who have done Grotto Falls and Hyalite Lake and are ready for something a little more removed from the crowd. The access road alone, 6.8 miles of rough terrain off Hyalite Canyon Road, filters out the casual visitors and leaves the trail feeling genuinely wild. What waits at the end is a backcountry corridor through the heart of the Gallatin Range with the kind of scenery that reminds you why people move to Montana in the first place. This is not a trail you stumble across. It is one you seek out, and that intentionality is part of what makes it special. For buyers who are serious about backcountry access, proximity to Hyalite Canyon and trails like Upper Portal is not a nice-to-have. It is a deciding factor.
Laurie’s Notes:
This is where Laurie writes his own personal take on the trail.