Trip Planning for Cooke City Area

as of 5:00 am
Apr 70″ | 10-20 SW
Apr 6 0″ | 12-26 NW
Apr 5 0″ | 10-15 N
10020′     04/08 at 1:00
28.6℉
SW - 15mph
Gusts 31 mph
9100′     04/08 at 00:00
32℉
85″ Depth
Primary Problem: Loose Wet
Bottom Line: This morning, avalanche conditions are generally safe and slides are unlikely. Warming during the day will unlock snow surfaces and make wet loose and wind slab avalanches possible. Move to lower-angle terrain or colder, drier slopes on northern aspects when the top few inches of snow become wet or roller balls signal deteriorating stability. The most likely location for instability related to wind-drifted snow is immediately below corniced ridgelines and in upper elevation gullies holding dry snow. Either avoid these specific locations or evaluate drifted slopes for instability.

Past 5 Days

Thu Apr 3

Low
Fri Apr 4

Moderate
Sat Apr 5

Moderate
Sun Apr 6

Moderate
Mon Apr 7

Moderate

Relevant Avalanche Activity

Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Skier triggered wind slab near Cooke
Incident details include images
COOKE CITY
SS-ASc-R1-D1
Elevation: 9,800
Aspect: N
Coordinates: 45.0471, -109.9990
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Today A Skier triggered a 6”x20’ wide wind slab on a N aspect at 9,800’.

 


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
COOKE CITY
Skier triggered and natural wet loose near Cooke
Incident details include images
COOKE CITY
WL-ASc-R1-D1.5-O
Elevation: 1,000
Aspect: SE
Coordinates: 45.0202, -109.9380
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

Skiers triggered D1-D1.5 wet loose on SE aspect at 10,000’.

There were also natural small wet loose slides today and yesterday. Long running, but narrow, in steep terrain. Typically initiated near rock outcrops.

Today was hotter than yesterday and the top of the snowpack got pretty wet before clouds built in the afternoon. Snow stayed dry on due north up high. 

 


More Avalanche Details
Cooke City
Hayden Creek
Wet Loose Avalanches Cooke City
Hayden Creek
WL-NC-R1-D1-S
Elevation: 10,000
Aspect: E
Coordinates: 44.9952, -109.9080
Caught: 0 ; Buried: 0

While touring south of town today, we observed two D1 wet loose avalanches on an east aspect at 10000’. Both occurred at 11am and were triggered by a small cornice fall due to rapid warming.


More Avalanche Details

Relevant Photos

Displaying 1 - 40
  • Apr 7 A Skier triggered a 6”x20’ wide wind slab on a N aspect at 9,800’.

     

  • Apr 7 A Skier triggered a 6”x20’ wide wind slab on a N aspect at 9,800’.

     

     

  • On Apr 7 Skiers triggered D1-D1.5 wet loose on SE aspect at 10,000’.

     

  • Apr 5 Wind slabs were still reactive. We triggered 3 small, 3-8" deep x 5-15' wide, hard wind (1F+) slabs on convex test slopes well below the main ridgelines. 9,800', NE aspects. Photo: GNFAC

  • Apr 5 Wind slabs were still reactive. We triggered 3 small, 3-8" deep x 5-15' wide, hard wind (1F+) slabs on convex test slopes well below the main ridgelines. 9,800', NE aspects. Also triggered one softer (4F) wind slab just below the high ridgeline, 10,200', NE aspect. 10-15' wide x 6-8" deep (Pictured). Photo: GNFAC

  • Apr 5 We saw a couple 3-6" deep natural wind slab avalanches and a few dry loose slides that looked to have happened within the last 24 hours. Photo: GNFAC

  • Wind slab near Cooke City from yesterday.  Intentionally triggered.  North aspect, 10,100'.  1' deep, 20' wide. Photo: B Fredlund

     

  • Skier took a left turn under cornices to scrub speed and released a 6-10" windslab 40' wide which ran 10' at most. Super soft and easy to ski through. Photo: J Lee

  • From email: "Ski touring near Cooke City today we intentionally triggered a storm slab/ wind slab on a steep north aspect around 9600'.  It was about 6" deep, and 30' wide." Photo: B Fredlund

  • Today we noticed these natural small wind slabs on Mt Henderson. Photo: J Mundt

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    We need your input! Eastern Oregon University is conducting a survey to better understand avalanche safety preparedness among motorized backcountry users like you. Your feedback will help us learn more about who is purchasing and practicing with avalanche rescue gear (beacon, probe, shovel) and participating in avalanche education—and why some riders aren’t.  The survey is confidential and anonymous.  

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  • As we rode, we dug a few snowpits looking for the weak layer that we found yesterday buried about 2 feet deep. While we were able to find this layer, we only got propagation in one of three tests (ECTP 26, E aspect, 9070'). Photo: GNFAC

  • We noted one avalanche on the Fin that likely occurred yesterday or early this morning from a wind slab or cornice fall. Photo: GNFAC

  • Photo of a recent natural avalanche north of Cooke City, observed today (3/23/25).  A S, SE aspect in Sheep Creek at about 9000'.  Photo: B Fredlund

     

  • Today we saw a D2 slab avalanche at Goose Lake, E facing, 10800 ft. We estimate this avalanche to have ran in the early hours of 3/17. Photo: BPG

  • No fresh avalanche activity observed.  Attached is a photo of the only sign of a recent avalanche we could find.  (an old crown on an East aspect at 9600'). Photo: B Fredlund

     

  • Avalanche on the SE face of Scotch Bonnet in Tragenic Bowl and one on the NE face of Wolverine. They both broke 2-4’ deep. The avalanche on Wolverine slide aprx 1500’. Both were in wind loaded areas at upper elevations. Photo: BPG

  • "Today I triggered a D1 dry loose avalanche on a E facing 35 degree slope, 9300 ft on Mt Henderson. The new snow is very low density and is not bonding well to the old interface. I also observed some more dry loose activity/small wind slabs on Sheep Mt, NE facing, 10400 ft."

  • Near Cooke City on Mar 14 there was 6" of new snow and wind was calm, even along the ridge near regularly wind-loaded slopes, and there was no snow blowing off ridgelines. The photo shows a slope that normally receives a lot of wind effect, but the new snow is unaffected indicating the wind has been calm. Photo: GNFAC

  • Dug a pit on a northeast facing slope, 9300' (profile and pic attached) near Cooke City. Snow depth was 7-8 feet. 6" of new snow was right side up. Below the new snow was a soft (1F-) melt-freeze crust with soft decomposing and slightly faceted particles below. ECTN13 broke below the crust. Below that the snowpack was 1F to P+ hard and lacked weak layers. The Feb 4 dirt layer was clearly visible. Photo: GNFAC

  • Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Photo: BPG

  • Today I observed multiple small wind slab avalanches off Woody Ridge. NE and E facing, 10000 ft. Max size D1. Photo: BPG

  •  Many dry loose slides on Cooke Peak in Hayden Creek. Photo: BPG

  • We also witnessed a falling cornice today that washed some snow through rocks. Be aware of what's above you.

     

  • Above Goose Creek -hard, dense, strong, and deep snow. Facets from late January are 1F+ hardness

  • Fresh wind slab avalanche seen this afternoon, possibly rider triggered. Photo: N. Meyers

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

  • On Feb 24 we saw at least 3 rider triggered wind slabs, 4-5 natural wind slab avalanches, and a couple large cornice falls. Strong wid had affected almost every piece of terrain, scouring some slopes, loading others, just stiffening the slab in many areas, and forming fresh drifts on every convex roll and along the edges of trails. Riding was still soft and fairly consistent in many areas. Photo GNFAC

     

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Observing the snowpack that caused the avalanche. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

  • While looking for a recent avalanche from the flat bench above we triggered a similar sized slide directly adjacent to the previous slide. They broke on weak layers of facets and surface hoar that formed at the end of January. 2-3 feet deep and 150-200' wide. Photo: GNFAC

     

  • An avalanche that was triggered two days ago (Feb 22), remotely from flat terrain above a steep slope, on the northeast end of Mt. Abundance. Photo: GNFAC

  • A rider triggered a small avalanche near Lulu Pass. No one was caught in the slide. Photo: N. Gaddy

  • A rider triggered a small avalanche near Lulu Pass. No one was caught in the slide. Photo: N. Gaddy

Videos- Cooke City Area

WebCams


Soda Butte Lodge, looking West

Soda Butte Lodge, looking East

Snowpit Profiles- Cooke City Area

 

Select a snowpit on the map to view the profile image

Weather Forecast Cooke City Area

Extended Forecast for

2 Miles NNE Cooke City MT

  • Overnight

    Overnight: A 50 percent chance of snow showers.  Mostly cloudy, with a steady temperature around 35. West southwest wind around 11 mph.  Total nighttime snow accumulation of around 2 inches.

    Low: 35 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers

  • Tuesday

    Tuesday: Snow showers, mainly after 3pm. Some thunder is also possible.  High near 39. West southwest wind 11 to 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 80%. New snow accumulation of around 4 inches.

    High: 39 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers then
    Snow Showers

  • Tuesday Night

    Tuesday Night: A chance of snow showers before midnight, then a slight chance of snow showers after 3am. Some thunder is also possible.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 24. West wind 9 to 18 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 30%. New snow accumulation of around 2 inches.

    Low: 24 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers

  • Wednesday

    Wednesday: A 30 percent chance of snow showers, mainly after noon.  Patchy blowing snow between 9am and noon. Partly sunny, with a high near 39. West wind 10 to 20 mph, with gusts as high as 38 mph.  Little or no snow accumulation expected.

    High: 39 °F

    Chance Snow
    Showers and
    Patchy
    Blowing Snow

  • Wednesday Night

    Wednesday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 22. West southwest wind 12 to 17 mph decreasing to 5 to 10 mph after midnight.

    Low: 22 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Thursday

    Thursday: Sunny, with a high near 51. West southwest wind 5 to 10 mph.

    High: 51 °F

    Sunny

  • Thursday Night

    Thursday Night: Mostly clear, with a low around 33. Southwest wind 7 to 10 mph.

    Low: 33 °F

    Mostly Clear

  • Friday

    Friday: Mostly sunny, with a high near 55. South southwest wind 7 to 15 mph.

    High: 55 °F

    Mostly Sunny

  • Friday Night

    Friday Night: A slight chance of rain showers before 9pm, then a chance of rain and snow showers.  Mostly cloudy, with a low around 35. South southwest wind 6 to 13 mph.  Chance of precipitation is 30%.

    Low: 35 °F

    Chance
    Rain/Snow

The Last Word

Hyalite Road Closure 

The Hyalite Canyon Road is closed to ALL MOTORIZED VEHICLES until the morning of May 16. This is a regular annual road closure to reduce road damage during the spring thaw. Bicycle and foot traffic are allowed. Contact the Bozeman FS Ranger District for more info.

04 / 6 / 25  <<  
 
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