Mount Headley is easily accessed via a moderately climbing trail in the southern Cabinet Mountains. It also makes an easy SOTA double when teamed up with Vermilion Peak, W7M/LO-056. The summit is the tallest in the area and has fine views of nearby summits, lakes and distant peaks. Be sure to stop and view Graves Creek Falls while traveling the Graves Creek Road to the summit. A large pullout on the Northside of the road is at about mile 3.0. It is not signed.
Vermilion Pass is the trailhead for both SOTA summits, Mount Headley and Vermilion Peak. Mount Headley was a US Forest Service Lookout site from 1907 till the 1928 Cupola was destroyed in 1965.
Elevation gain: 1400’
Trail Miles: 7 miles roundtrip.
Water: None exists along the trail.
Bear Pepper Spray: Highly recommended in all Montana summits.
Map: US Forest Service, Plains/Thompson Falls Ranger District
Directions: North out of Thompson Falls on Highway 200 approximately 1 mile turn right, signed Thompson Falls State Park. Follow this paved road approximately 61/4 miles to the Graves Creek Road. Follow the Graves Creek Road approximately 10 miles to Vermilion Pass. The road is passable with a passenger car with good clearance however when I travelled it there were an occasion large holes and an occasional large rock that can sneak up on you. Near mile 3.0 is a large pullout and short 200’ trail to a viewpoint at the top of Graves Creek Falls.
The trail, #528 to the summit begins at Vermilion Pass as an old closed-in road. This road climbs to the southeast and turns into a trail in about ½ mile.
