Skalkaho Pass
- Madeline
- Jul 31
- 3 min read
Location & History
Skalkaho Pass (also called Skalkaho Highway or Highway 38) cuts through the Sapphire Mountains to connect Hamilton in the Bitterroot Valley to Philipsburg in the Flint Creek Valley. This 53-mile long seasonal road was built as a joint effort between the State of Montana and the US Forest Service along a historic Native American route. It opened in 1924 to connect various mining operations in the Sapphires and further east to the agricultural operations in the Bitterroot Valley.
The name Skalkaho comes from two Salish words: skalen and kalalko, which mean "beaver" and "green wood." An 1872 map lists the creek as "Ska-ka-ho." The highest point of the pass crests at 7,260 feet elevation with the west of the high point designated as part of the Bitterroot National Forest and east in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
Skalkaho Falls
One of the main highlights of the road is of course Skalkaho Falls, located 21 miles from Highway 93 on the Bitterroot side and about 32 miles from Highway 1 on the Philipsburg side. If you're confident with driving on gravel roads with no guard rails, this is a great place to see one of Western Montana's more beautiful waterfalls without having to hike. There is a small pull-off area for a few cars just 20 feet from the base of the falls.
I personally like to visit Skalkaho Falls from the Hamilton side, as it appears suddenly around a sharp bend in the road. It definitely has the "wow factor" when you're showing visitors the local sites. From the Philipsburg side, you get an entirely different view as you approach the falls from above coming down the road. It really puts the fall's size in perspective.
Wildlife
As with all remote and forested areas, be mindful of your speed regardless of time of day. There is an abundance of wildlife along Skalkaho Pass, and many animals are accustomed to cars. I'd say easily half of my visits to the falls have included sightings of bighorn sheep, and often they're right off the road. Last summer I was fortunate enough to observe 5 baby bighorns and they came within 15 feet of the road. The area is also populated with elk, moose, mule deer, black bear, and more.
Camping & Fishing
If you're planning to spend the weekend along the pass, there are plenty of places to camp down National Forest roads or at the Black Bear Campground on the Hamilton side or the Crystal Creek Campground on the Philipsburg side. Sites are first come, first serve and there is no camping fee. There is a small trail great for kids called the Centennial Grove Trailhead and I highly recommend spending some time at Mud Lake (also called Crystal Lake) near Crystal Creek. While you won't catch any trophy fish there, you can fish for small trout and it's a peaceful spot to enjoy the water and quiet of the forest.
There are a number of trails in the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, namely to two alpine lakes: Fuse Lake and Stony Lake. Fuse Lake is just shy of 5 miles out and back and is a
popular spot for fishing for arctic grayling.
Seasonal Closure
Skalkaho Pass typically opens for the season on Memorial Day weekend and remains open until DOT closes the highway due to snow. The road may also close due to wildfire activity or other road conditions. Always check the DOT's website for current road conditions. If you're a snowmobiler, the pass is great for winter adventures.
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