Montana Hiking
You know you wanna go hiking in Montana. Isn't it about
time you planned your hiking trip to this amazing place?
Below are some of Montana's best hiking trails so you can
start thinking about where you want to hike first.
In Billings,
check out the Chief Black Otter Trail which
runs above the city, goes past Boothill Cemetery, climbs
up Kelly Mountain and continues down the mountain. As you
hike, you will get a magnificent view of the town below.
The Hyalite Canyon in Bozeman ,
offers hiking trails past cascading waterfalls. The recreation
area also offers fishing, picnicking and camping. At the
Bozeman Fish Technology Center you can hike the ½ mile loop
through the Bridger Park Mall.
The Big Hole National Battlefield, part
of the Nez Perce National Historic Park, has 3 self-guided
trails which lead through the Siege area, the Nez Perce
Camp and the Howitzer Capture Site.
Glacier National Park
Glacier
National Park is a hiker's haven and has numerous opportunities
for hitting the trails. There are 5 self-guided interpretive
walks that allow you to explore the park at your own speed-
the wheel chair accessible Trail of the Cedar, the Huckleberry
Mountain, the Hidden Lake, the Sun Point and the Swiftcurrent
Nature Trail.
The Going-to-the-Sun Road is open to vehicle traffic from West Glacier to the Loop. However, past the Loop the road is open to hiking to a point about two miles beyond Bird Woman Falls Overlook. On the east side of the park the Going-to-the-Sun Road is open to vehicle traffic to Jackson Glacier Overlook. Hikers may continue up the road about another three miles. Some of Glacier’s most popular hiking areas are the Lake McDonald, the Many Glacier, the St. Mary/Logan Pass and Two Medicine.
You are welcome to hike and camp in Glacier’s back country
— just be sure to get a permit from a visitors center or
ranger station. The permits are given out on a first come-first
served basis and no more than 24 hours in advance, so be
sure to plan ahead. For guided hiking tours call 1-800-521-7238.
In the west Glacier area, you will find a variety of trails and footpaths. Some routes are the Cracker Lake trial at 6.1 miles long and reaching an elevation of 1,400 feet, the Grinnell Glacier and Lake trail is 8.9 miles long with elevations ranging from 60 to 1,600 feet, and the assorted Iceberg Lake/Ptarmigan trails which range in length from 2.5 to 5.2 miles long and can reach an elevation of 2,300 feet. Shorter trails include the 2.4 mile level loop around Swiftcurrent and the mile long Appekunny Falls Trail.
Outside of Norris, Montana is Bear Trap Canyon. The Canyon is over 1,500 feet deep with the white waters of the Madison River at its base. The trail here is strenuous, but the sights are well worth the effort.
In the southwest part of Montana along Route 43, you will
find the Anaconda Range. On your way to the summits
you will pass by cascading falls and alpine lakes. At nearby
Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness Area, you will find a 45 mile
trail that ambles along the peaks of the Continental Divide.
Just outside of Darby are Lake Como and the majestic Como Peaks. Here you will
find the Lake Como Loop which follows a relatively
flat yet challenging shoreline course. However, if you are
accustomed to the ups-and-downs of most area trails, you
will find this flatter track only moderately difficult.
Just west of the Cabinet Mountains is the Area of the Giant Cedars (just
off Rout 56). Although the trek is only a mile long, do
not overlook its worth. As you hike your way along the path,
you will see cedars towering 175 feet high and reaching
8 feet in diameter, along with a great view of the high
summits of Cabinet Mountain Wilderness and the Bull River
Valley below.
In the Flathead National Forest you will find the Swan Range with its 5,000
acre area known as Jewel Basin Hiking Area. It has
many hikes available and is a favorite among hikers. Along
its trails you will see mountain lakes and streams, violet
glacier lilies, the red and yellow shooting stars and other
colorful wildflowers.
Top 10 Best Hiking Trails in Montana
- 1. Black Canyon of the Yellowstone (Backpacking), Mammoth, WY
- 2. Three Passes in Glacier (Backpacking), East Glacier, MT
- 3. Boulder Pass (Backpacking), Columbia Falls, MT
- 4. Nyack Loop (Backpacking), West Glacier, MT
- 5. Gunsight Pass, Saint Mary, MT
- 6. Apikuni Falls, Babb, MT
- 7. Haystack Butte, Saint Mary, MT
- 8. Fifty Mountain (Backpacking), Columbia Falls, MT
- 9. Boulder Pass, Polebridge, MT
- 10. Ptarmigan Tunnel, Babb, MT
Photo Credits: All hiking photos by Eric
Chan
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