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3.4 mi

Distance

1,299 ft

Elev. Gain

1h 47m

Est. Time

Moderate

Difficulty

About This Trail

Shields Big Elk is a trail in Lewis & Clark National Forest, managed by the United States Forest Service, in Montana. It is 3.4 miles long and gains 1,299 feet. The surface is dirt. Per USDA Forest Service, it is open to bikes and horses. The nearest town is Martinsdale, Montana, about 15 miles away in a straight line.

From the trail data on this page. For conditions and closures, see official sources.

Trail Conditions

Trail Conditions

Unknown

We have no current condition data for this trail. Check with the operator before you go, and submit a report below if you've been recently.

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Elevation Profile

Min:2,025 ft
Max:2,392 ft
Gain:410 ft
Loss:55 ft
Elevation profileA line rising and falling between 2,025 ft and 2,392 ft across 3.4 mi along the route, drawn from start to end.2,025 ft2,147 ft2,270 ft2,392 ft0.0 mi0.9 mi1.7 mi2.6 mi3.4 mi

Elevation at the labelled points along this route
PointDistance from startElevation
Start0.0 mi2,025 ft
High point3.3 mi2,392 ft
End3.4 mi2,380 ft

Trail Details

Bike and horse access: USDA Forest Service, checked 2026-10-14. Rules change, so confirm with the land manager before you go.

Surface
Dirt

Official sources & verification

Managed by United States Forest Service

Verify before you go

Managing agency

Where it is

Nearest town:
Martinsdale, MT · about 15 mi away
Jurisdiction:
Lewis & Clark National Forest · United States Forest Service

Nearest town and county from U.S. Census Bureau place records and county boundaries.

We display cached information from agency feeds. Hours, fees, permits, closures, fire restrictions, and conditions change without notice. Outdoors is not the permitting authority. Confirm current conditions for this trail using the links above before you go — you are responsible for compliance. Last verified by us: Aug 17, 2026. Our copy is more than a month old — please reconfirm with the agency before relying on it.Spot an error in our data?

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Imported route

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