Montana

Looking for the best running 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 Running Spots in and near Montana

  • Glacier County, Montana

    Two Medicine Lake

    5.0
    Two Medicine Lake sits in the southeastern part of Glacier NP away from the more popular Going-to-the-Sun Road. The 2-mile long lake has a 100 site campground that serves visitors on a first-come-first-serve basis; the campground opens mid-April and closes in November. From the main parking area...
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  • Billings, Montana

    Explore The Rimrocks

    5.0
    The Rimrocks (also known as the "Rims") are geological rimrock sandstone formations that outcrop in Billings, Montana. Eighty million years ago the Billings metro area was the shore of the Western Interior Seaway, a sea that went from the present-day Gulf of Mexico to the Arctic North. Sediment a...
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  • Darby, Montana

    Backpack to Little Rock Creek

    9 mi / 1780 ft gain
    Little Rock Creek is one of the Bitterroots' best kept secrets. In late spring, the glacier lilies are in full bloom, and sprinkle the valley floor. At that time of year, there may also be quite a bit of snow on the ground, which will require some bushwhacking to stay on the trail.Little Rock Cre...
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  • Gallatin Gateway, Montana

    Summit Storm Castle Peak

    4.8
    5 mi / 1900 ft gain
    Storm Castle (or Castle Mountain) is a rocky peak that rises to an elevation of 7,280 ft on the east side of the Gallatin Canyon overlooking Beckman Flats. The hike is a gorgeous 5 mile out and back trail located just 30 minutes south of Bozeman, Montana in the Gallatin Canyon. This trail offers ...
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  • Gallatin Gateway, Montana

    Hike to Golden Trout Lakes

    4.0
    5 mi / 1300 ft gain
    The Golden Trout lakes offer a scenic getaway just out of the Gallatin Valley Canyon. To access the trail head, turn east onto Portal Creek Road #984 and continue southeast for 6.8 miles. The road is in rough condition and is better suited for vehicles with a higher clearance. The trail head is e...
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  • Augusta, Montana

    Hike to Cataract Falls

    5.0
    0.5 mi
    Located in the Lewis and Clark National Forest on the Rocky Mountain Front, this hike will give the best bang for your buck -- it's about as easy as they come but still boasts outstanding views. The falls are roaring in the spring with snow melt, tranquil in the summer and fall, and permit some d...
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  • Wilsall, Montana

    Summit Hardscrabble Peak

    5.0
    4 mi / 1900 ft gain
    Located in the Bridger Mountain Range, Hardscrabble Peak offers a scenic hike just outside of Bozeman, MT. The Peak sits just north of the more popular Sacagawea Peak and from atop grants views over the Gallatin Valley as well as surrounding mountain ranges such as the Big Belts, Crazies, Tabacco...
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  • Bozeman, Montana

    Sypes Canyon

    3.0
    6.03 mi / 1824 ft gain
    Sypes Canyon Trail is a gorgeous hike to a scenic lookout over Bozeman, MT. The trail only lies 20 minutes north of Bozeman and offers the perfect after work exercise. The trail is heavily populated with people and trail conditions fluctuate throughout the year. The trail follows a small creek th...
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  • Gallatin Gateway, Montana

    Hike to Emerald and Heather Lake

    5.0
    10.9 mi / 2000 ft gain
    Once in Bozeman, Take 19th Ave. south to Hyalite Canyon Rd. Turn left and continue past Hyalite Reservoir; when the road splits, take the left fork toward Palisade Falls. Continue past Palisade Falls to the end of the road. The trailhead is immediately ahead of you. This hike is around 11 miles t...
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  • Flathead County, Montana

    Bowman Lake

    5.0
    13.83 mi / 361.77 ft gain
    Bowman lake is the 3rd largest lake in Glacier National Park and one of the most remote areas accessible by car. The drive out on a dirt road is slow and bumpy but the reward is an area without crowds and lots of adventure potential. The first-come-first-served campground offers 48 sites near t...
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  • Great Falls, Montana

    Hike Sulphur Springs Trail

    3.32 mi / 278 ft gain
    You can find the Sulphur Springs trailhead near the Morony Dam and Reservoir. There's a graveled parking lot, an outhouse and an informative story board to quell your curiosity. For your convenience, I'll give you a Reader's Digest version of the history of this specific area. As we all know, Lew...
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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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  • 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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  • Moore, Montana

    Stay at The Montana Bunkhouse

    2 mi / 500 ft gain
    The Montana Bunkhouse is a great place to unplug and enjoy time with friends and family. This two bedroom bunkhouse rests in the foothills of the Big Snowy mountains on the Olsen family ranch an hour from the nearest town. The building was built in 1905 as a community hall, later converted to a ...
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  • Helena, Montana

    Continental Divide Trail: MacDonald Pass to Priest Pass

    5.0
    10.8 mi / 2500 ft gain
    The CDT trail is a popular trail with thru-hikers, and is considered one of the three Crown Jewels. The Appalachian Trail and the Pacific Crest Trail being the other two.  This section of the Continental Divide Trail starts 25-minutes to the West of Helena just off Highway 12 at the CDNST Trailhe...
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  • Great Falls, Montana

    North Shore Rivers Edge Trail East

    6.9 mi / 700 ft gain
    The North Shore Rivers Edge Trail East is a moderate trail that has been created mostly by the local biking associations. The trail follows the bluffs on the edge of the river with plenty of twists and turns to keep it interesting.  To access the East section of the North Shore Rivers Edge trail,...
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