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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

  • 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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  • 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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  • Augusta, Montana

    Hike to Willow Creek Falls

    5.0
    4.5 mi / 1000 ft gain
    The hike up Willow Creek Gorge is one of my favorites so far. Unfortunately, because of the terrain and elevation gain, I wouldn't recommend taking young kids but if you do, make sure they're attached to you in some way. There are no services at the trail head, so make sure to bring everything yo...
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  • Dayton, Montana

    Kayak to Wild Horse Island

    5.0
    There are many boat ramps to access Flathead Lake, but the closest location to Wild Horse Island is Dayton, MT. Dayton offers easy access with only about a 1-hour paddle to the island for the novice kayakers. Unfortunately, the boat ramp in Dayton does not have room for parking, thus it is only a...
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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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  • Browning, Montana

    Hike the Skyline Experience

    12.62 mi / 6500 ft gain
    The route starts from Many Glacier at the Cracker Lake Trailhead, about 5000 feet. Hike the trail about 2 miles until you come to a fork, stay right here to keep your approach hike a little shorter. Hikers wind through switchbacks and beautiful meadows and forests on the way to a crossing of Crac...
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  • Darby, Montana

    Backpack and Summit Trapper Peak

    4.0
    8.75 mi / 3327 ft gain
    From Darby, MT, follow MT 473 south for 4 miles to West Fork Bitterroot River Rd. A mile past the Job Corps, at milepost 7, turn right on FS 5634 (Baker Point Rd.). Follow this road 10 miles to the trailhead at about 7000 ft. The trail begins on a FS trail to Baker Lake. There are fish in Baker L...
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  • Carbon County, Montana

    Visit Devil's Canyon Overlook in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area

    Devil's Canyon Overlook is a breathtaking area in Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area located in Montana and Wyoming. Devil's Canyon Overlook is located in Montana about 3 miles north of the Montana, Wyoming border off HWY 37. The overlook is easily accessed from well-marked, paved roads with...
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  • Browning, Montana

    Piegan Mountain

    5.0
    5 mi / 3000 ft gain
    Start this hike at the Lunch Creek parking lot just over Logan Pass. Follow the climber's trail which will lead you above a waterfall and into Lunch Creek Basin. Looking straight ahead, you will see Pollock Mountain. Continue to your right for the peak approach (if you go all the way to the right...
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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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  • 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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  • Bigfork, Montana

    Summit Swan Peak

    18.49 mi / 6180 ft gain
    This hike is about an hour drive south from Kalispell. Follow MT-83 S for about 47 mi. towards and past Swan Lake. Take a left on NF-554 and follow the road for 1.6 mi. and take a right on Squeezer Creek Rd. and follow the road for 4 mi. to a gated road and park near the gate. Follow the gated ro...
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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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  • 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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  • Glacier County, Montana

    Ptarmigan Falls

    5.0
    5.11 mi / 768 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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  • 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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