Hike Crown Mountain, Augusta

Located an hour and forty minutes east of Great Falls Montana, Crown Mountain is a fun day hike, and you'll see few if any other people. The nearest town is Augusta and a great place to stop for a burger and beer at Buckhorn Bar afterward. 

From Augusta, head West on Benchmark Road for 20 miles. Just past Double Falls campground and on the left side of the road will be the trailhead for Trail 270 Crown Mountain Trail. There is no access to water while you are on the trail, so be sure to bring enough. 

The trail starts off at an elevation of 5,200 feet, and after hiking a little more than 3 miles, you'll have climbed  2,000 vertical feet to a saddle. The saddle is a good place to rest before the final ascent up Crown Mountain. 

We chose to scramble up the southwest ridge. From the saddle to the summit it was a little over a mile and 1,200 vertical feet of climbing. 

On top of Crown Mountain, there are breathtaking views of the  Haystack Butte and the eastern plains of Montana. To the west are views of the Scapegoat Plateau. Lounge around and enjoy the tranquility!

Word has it that Crown Mountain got its name because when people view it from the front range its sheer cliffs and sub-peaks look like a crown.

For the descent, we chose to take the direct route heading almost due south. This route was less steep and more straightforward but filled with loose scree. We were almost skiing down the hill at times!

When you get back to the saddle, hop on Trail 270 Crown Mountain Trail and head back to your vehicle.

Remember to leave some beer in the river so that when you get back, you have a cold beverage waiting for you. 

Have fun!