Carbon County, Montana

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

Top Backpacking Spots in and near Carbon County

  • 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 to Rainbow Lake via the East Rosebud Trail

    3.0
    16 mi / 1600 ft gain
    Also known as "The Beaten Path", the East Rosebud Trail is a highly traveled and well maintained trail with amazing views and a handful of lakes along the route. The trail is ultimately 26 miles long and places you near Cooke City. Rainbow Lake is located 7 miles from the trailhead and is a perfe...
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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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  • Roscoe, Montana

    Backpack to the Beartooths

    5.0
    14 mi / 7620 ft gain
    We stood there, against the wind, looking at 3-4 pitches. The line appeared too good to be true. It was a bit of an ice pitch, followed by a snow coliour, finishing with a pitch of mixed climbing that would take us to the top.I'd heard things about The Beartooths. But, they weren’t validated unti...
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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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  • Cody, Wyoming

    Backpack to Golden & Jasper Lakes in the Beartooths

    14 mi / 1000 ft gain
    Get ready for a challenging hike if you are not used to high elevations! This backpacking trip starts at the Island Lake trailhead a few miles west of the Beartooth Pass on Highway 212. Island lake sits at 9518 ft. elevation and your trek only goes up from there! The trail stays very flat and man...
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  • Cooke City-Silver Gate, Montana

    Rock Island Lake Trail

    6.86 mi / 771 ft gain
    Rock Island Lake Trail is an out-and-back trail that takes you by a lake located near Cooke City, Montana.
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  • Park County, Montana

    Backpack the Aero Lakes to Granite Peak

    26 mi / 6200 ft gain
    Granite Peak is considered one of the most difficult state high-points, for its remoteness and its climbing challenge.  Unfortunately, the access to this route is very remote.  Fortunately, this route to the summer is the easiest way up in terms of the technical climbing challenge.  This route, k...
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