Montana

Looking for the best backpacking in Montana? We've got you covered with the top trails, trips, hiking, backpacking, camping and more around Montana. The detailed guides, photos, and reviews are all submitted by the Outbound community.

Top Backpacking Spots in and near Montana

  • Gallatin Gateway, Montana

    Hike to Garnet Mountain Lookout

    5.0
    7.7 mi / 2800 ft gain
    Starting in Bozeman, travel south of Gallatin Gateway about 5 miles on Hwy 191 and turn left on to Storm Castle Creek Road. Follow this road for about 3.5 miles until the road ends. At this point, there is a decent sized parking area. The trail is open year round with ATV access and also snowmobi...
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  • Browning, Montana

    Gunsight Pass to Gunsight Lake Campsite

    5.0
    13.06 mi / 1667 ft gain
    How to Get There: Get your backcountry pass at the St. Mary visitor center and then head over to the hike, which begins from the Jackson Glacier Overlook, located 12.6 miles west of the center on the Going-to-Sun-Road.  The Hike: The first mile of the hike is a downhill, and then the trail is ...
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  • Fishtail, Montana

    Backpack the Beartooths via the West Rosebud Trail

    22.69 mi / 6795 ft gain
    The West Rosebud Trail functions as one of the major routes to Granite Peak, the highest point in Montana. The trailhead (6,558') is located approximately 80 miles south of Billings in the Beartooth Absaroka Wilderness. The road to the trail passes Emerald and West Rosebud Lakes just before arriv...
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  • Kalispell, Montana

    Mount Aeneas Trail

    4.9
    6.45 mi / 1819.12 ft gain
    The hike to Mount Aeneas in the Bob Marshall Wilderness and Flathead Valley can easily be overlooked since it is in such a geographically rich area, with Glacier National Park and the Bob Marshall Wilderness so close, but it is absolutely a hidden gem that doesn't get enough attention. Mount Aene...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Waterton Lake via Bowman Lake

    49.5 mi / 6365 ft gain
    Our trip started on Thursday evening, spending the night at the Bowman Lake campground. You can park your car here and it's where the hike will start and end. I recommend staying here the night before because day 1 is a doozy, so you'll want an early start. Day 1 is the hardest day of the hike, ...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Backpack to Logging Lake

    8.8 mi
    Backcountry camping is the best plan if you’d like to visit Logging Lake, and the primitive campsites lay at the end of a four and a half mile hike through some of the most unspoiled sections of the park. The trail follows logging creek most of the way to the lake traversing through a variety of ...
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  • Red Lodge, Montana

    West Fork - Lake Fork of Rock Creek Trail

    19 mi
    Start out at the West Fork trailhead west of Red Lodge and begin on an epic backpacking trip. This trek can easily be done anywhere from 2-5 days depending on ability and whether or not you want to take your time. Camp first at Quinnebaugh Meadows, a large meadow with great views of the Beartoot...
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  • Roscoe, Montana

    Backpack Granite Peak

    5.0
    14 mi
    There are a few ways to approach Granite Peak. The most popular route is the Mystic Lake trail in West Rosebud. It lies primarily on opinion as to which route is the best, easiest, or most scenic. I chose to start at the Phantom Creek trailhead in the East Rosebud Valley. You will follow this tra...
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  • West Glacier, Montana

    Bowman Lake to Quartz Lake Loop

    5.0
    13.3 mi / 2618 ft gain
    The trail to Quartz lake begins on southend of the Bowman Lake beach. I recommend going in a clockwise direction and getting the steep bit out of the way, but the ~13 mile loop can be done either way. Follow the Bowman Lake shore on the West Lakes Trail for about half a mile and then you will fi...
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  • Wise River, Montana

    Hike to Lower and Upper Seymour Lakes

    5.0
    12 mi
    There are so many wilderness areas to choose from in Montana, it can be quite overwhelming. But try this on for size: the Pintlers are essentially Glacier National Park, without the people. Not only does it traverse the CDT, but chances are you won't see a lot of people, if any, on your adventure...
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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Pitamakan Pass

    15.36 mi / 3064 ft gain
    This gripping, 16 mile round trail reveals adventure at every turn. Nestled behind Pray Lake in Glacier National Park, the Pitamakan Pass hike will begin at the North Shore Trailhead. To access this trailhead, a fifteen dollar fee may be payed to cross Pray Lake by boat. If your pocket book is ru...
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  • Florence, Montana

    Backpack the Sweeney Creek Trail

    14 mi / 2600 ft gain
    The hike into Duffy Lake was approximately 7 miles with ~2600' gain. The first mile or two is fairly steep, then it will wiggle up and down the mountain until it drops down into the drainage to the lake. You can hike to Holloway Lake too if the trail isn't completely covered in snow. Late spring ...
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  • Browning, Montana

    Backpack to Cosley Lake

    27.2 mi / 475 ft gain
    The hike goes through different wooded areas, open fields, and passes by the ranger's ranch. In no time, you will be able to see the aqua blue colors of Cosley Lake, as you approach the campground for the night.The campground has pit toilets and a bear bag hanging station, along with a cooking ar...
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  • Lincoln, Montana

    Hike the Continental Divide Trail via Roger Pass

    2.33 mi / 665 ft gain
    After driving over Rogers Pass more times than I can count, we finally made it a point to stop and check out the Continental Divide Trail No. 440 -- glad we did. If you've driven the pass, you've seen the trail head about 66 miles west of Great Falls -- the wooden stairs off the right side of th...
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  • Kalispell, Montana

    Backpack to Black Lake

    7 mi / 1500 ft gain
    Begin at Camp Misery (elev. 5,717 ft). This is a total misname by the way! It should be titled Camp On The Way To Awesomeness! Anyway, head .6 miles on Trail 8 to the intersection of trail. From here turn right on Trail 68 and hike .7 miles until the intersection where you turn right on Trail 7 f...
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  • Swiftcurrent, Montana

    Glacier's North Circle Route (North East Section)

    9.7 mi / 1660 ft gain
    Planning & Preparations As amazing as this trek is, it's certainly not without its challenges, and the first one you will run into is obtaining a backcountry permit for camping.  As it absolutely should, backcountry camping is very regulated.  Essentially, you request permits and multiple da...
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