Montana

Looking for the best hiking 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 Hiking Spots in and near Montana

  • Whitefish, Montana

    Hike Whitefish Mountain via the Danny On Trail

    5.0
    7.6 mi / 2250 ft gain
    The Danny On Trail starts from the base area of Whitefish Mountain Ski Resort and zig zags its way up to the summit. The trailhead is near the Chalet building/Hellroaring Saloon upper parking lot (there's a big sign). The trail passes through Douglas fir, western larch, spruce and fir trees. The ...
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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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  • Livingston, Montana

    Summit Arrow Peak

    2.4 mi / 3600 ft gain
    Starting in Livingston, MT, take Hwy 89 for 16 miles and take a left on Mill Creek Road. A junction with Road 540 will be reached. At this junction, continue on Mill Creek Road for another 8 miles until a large rock gully on the left is present and a wooden fence is on the right. The route is not...
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  • Flathead County, Montana

    Hike Glacier View Mountain

    5.04 mi / 2880 ft gain
    Driving north from Columbia Falls, MT for 20 miles, park after the junction of the Camas Road and the North Fork Road. This parking area is directly after the junction on the east side of the road and the trail begins on the west side of the road.The beginning of the trail is started with many sw...
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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Hike to Two Medicine Pass

    7.9 mi / 2350 ft gain
    Starting at the South Shore trailhead on Two Medicine Lake (parking available), you'll follow the lake through alternating forest and meadows and eventually cross a small suspension bridge.  Afterwards the trail forks. Take the "Two Medicine Pass" trail on the left rather than the Twin Falls/Upp...
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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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  • Anaconda, Montana

    Hike to Fourmile Basin Lakes

    Distance: 8 miles round-tripTime: 4 hoursDifficulty: Easy to ModerateTrailhead: 46.135170, -113.207803From MT-1, follow the signs for Trail 44 along Twin Lakes Creek Road until it ends. The trail begins at the end of the road.The area is largely second-growth forest, having been cut several times...
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  • Wilsall, Montana

    Summer Skiing "The Great One Couloir" in the Northern Bridgers

    The Great One Couloir in the Northern Bridgers is a classic summer ski adventure, perfect for a day trip.Walk up the trail towards Sacajewea Peak – it is marked on a sign and easy to find. Continue for about 2 miles to the top, where you will traverse south from Sacajewea Peak for roughly 1 mile,...
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  • Gallatin Gateway, Montana

    Backpack the Gallatin Crest Trail

    42 mi / 6000 ft gain
    There are some different options for starting and ending this hike, but the route I did started at Buffalo Horn Trailhead and ends at the Hyalite Creek Trailhead, and is approximately 42 miles total. I did the trail over the course of three and a half days, spending three nights in the backcountr...
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  • Sun River, Montana

    Hike the First Peoples Buffalo Jump Loop

    5.0
    3 mi / 400 ft gain
    While the trail doesn't offer the typical scenery of a Montana hike, the views are spectacular. At the top of the jump, you're at one of the highest points of the basin, allowing you to take in the full magnitude of the surrounding mountains, which include the Big Belt, Little Belt and Highwood R...
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  • Big Sky, Montana

    Ousel Falls

    3.5
    1.66 mi / 279 ft gain
    The trailhead is easy to find, and has a vault toilet and a decently sized parking lot. The trail leaves from right next to the toilets, and is very easy to follow. Follow a couple easy switchbacks down the hillside, cross the memorial bridge and stop to take in the beautiful scenery before follo...
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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Ptarmigan Falls

    5.0
    5.11 mi / 1020 ft gain
    ...The hike to Ptarmigan Falls begins next to the cabins near the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. There’s enough parking for about 10-16 vehicles in the lot next to the trailhead. This is a heavily trafficked area, so extra parking is available in front of the Swiftcurrent Motor Inn. This is where I park...
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  • West Yellowstone, Montana

    Camp at Cherry Creek Campground at Hebgen Lake

    In early November we drove from Big Sky to this free campsite located on the southern part of the lake. The road is dirt but mellow. We saw no other campers the entire 2 days we were there.  We got out on our inflatable kayak the first day and paddled out on the glassy water near some enormous fl...
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  • Deer Lodge, Montana

    Summit Mount Powell

    11.6 mi / 4730 ft gain
    From Interstate 90, exit at Racetrack #195. Continue west for one mile and turn north at a T intersection. Follow the road for about 0.75 mi. to Quinlan Rd. and continue west with a dogleg south for 3.5 mi. Take a sharp right to the north east to a Y and take the left fork. After about 0.07 mi., ...
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  • Browning, Montana

    Backpack to the Foot of Glenns Lake

    20.6 mi / 950 ft gain
    Starting from the Chief Mountain Parking Area, take the trail to the left of the bathrooms at the end of the parking lot (left of the bathrooms if you are facing the bathrooms and the main road is to your right). You will quickly hike to a wooden kiosk. Read this kiosk for any pertinent informati...
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  • Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area, Montana

    Hike Upper Layout Creek Trail

    4 mi / 0 ft gain
    If you park your car at the horse corral and pit toilets you will hike up a gravel road for a little bit. This part of the trail is a slight incline, then you'll stay left where the trail really starts. There are markers that indicate which way to go. There are no elevation markings, so it is har...
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