Montana Off-Road Trails

Hyalite Canyon South Road is a pleasant 2-mile trail near the Hyalite Reservoir in the Custer Gallatin National Forest. The road is easy flat packed dirt with plenty of potholes, a few of them large. The start of the trail offers great views of the head of the reservoir where the Hyalite Creek flows in. Continuing down the road, there are excellent views of peaks and cliffs. The mountain seems to rise thousands of feet from the ground directly in front of you. Several campsites along the road are situated at the bank of the creek. Many are marked as designated campsites with metal fire rings and barbeque grates. There is also plenty of access for fly fishing along the trail. The end of the road is a large parking lot with several hiking trailheads, one of which is a short hike to scenic Grotto Falls. Overall this trail is a relaxing, scenic drive with unparalleled views.

Fairy Lake Road is a 6.36-mile trail in the Bridger Mountain Range. The relatively easy trail has excellent views and leads to beautiful Fairy Lake. The views of the mountain range in the final third of the trail are spectacular. The lake is a popular swimming spot and is busy on hot days and weekends.

The trail is rough dirt, and the start is fairly flat and easy. Continuing up the trail, medium-sized potholes and a few relatively steep hill climbs emerge.

Fairy Lake Campground at the trail's end has nine campsites with fire pits and vault toilets. Numerous dispersed campsites are also along the road in the final section leading up to the lake.

Bear Divide Road is an 8.4-mile trail in the Gallatin National Forest with nice views and a variety of terrain, including alpine meadows with a variety of wildflowers. The trail runs along a ridge between Little Bear Road (980) and Wilson Creek Divide (3138). The trail is moderately difficult, with loose rocks, ruts, and mud. Wildlife is plentiful in the area and often seen from the trail.

Campsites are located near the meadow and the western end of the trail.

Miles Creek Road is a 5.15-mile road in the Bangtail Mountain Range. The road is mostly rough dirt, with several sections that are quite muddy and several that are quite rocky. There are some large ruts in parts of the road. For the most part, the worst obstacles can be easily avoided assuming one drives slow and cautiously. Many small offshoot roads leading to campsites are quite steep and technical, with mud, large rocks, deep ruts, and deep puddles. This road crosses over the top of the ridge and has excellent views of mountains and plateaus that are on the east side of the Bangtail Mountains and travels through several meadows full of wildflowers and butterflies.

There are lots of great camping spots off this road, with campsites right along the road and others a little ways from the trail via short access roads. Many of the campsites have their own unique beautiful views, and several of them have campfire rings.

Overall this is a fun trail for beginners, sightseers, campers, and those who want to explore more technical obstacles or play in the mud.

Olson Creek Road is a 4.15-mile road in the Bangtail Mountains. It is mostly rough dirt with small rocks, potholes, and ruts. The road follows Olson Canyon for the first part, with nice views of the steep valley. The road then turns uphill and climbs one side of the valley. The switchbacks provide excellent views of the Bridger Mountains. This part of the trail is fairly steep, with a substantial drop off the side. Exercise caution when the road is wet or slippery with mud. Overall this is a nice trail with excellent scenery, and it connects to both Miles Creek Road and Skunk Creek Road. No campsites are present along this road, but there are many campsites along nearby Miles Creek Road.

Bear Gulch Road is an easy point-to-point connector road that takes you through Montana's Garnet Mining Region. Accessible May through December, it will take you through historical markers and long-abandoned reminders of its early mining history, beginning as early as the 1860s.

Private property and active mining claims prevent camping along this stretch of trail.

South Valley Road offers a captivating journey through the picturesque landscape of Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge. This scenic route connects Monida, Montana, with Red Rock Pass near Henry's Lake, Idaho. Enjoy the fantastic views of the Centennial Valley and Mountains. The river marsh meanders through the valley, uniting the Lower and Upper Red Rock Lakes. Along the way, you'll encounter the weathered remains of old cabins, a testament to the passage of time as nature gracefully reclaims the land. For those looking to spend time here, there are three campgrounds, various hiking trails, and fishing accesses with boat ramps.

Goose Creek Road, an easy 1.9-mile out-and-back trail, is located in the Trail Creek Canyon area of the Gallatin National Forest. The road is graded dirt, with mild ruts, rolling bumps, gentle climbs, and tight turns. Water and mud may be present on parts of this trail after rain or when snow is melting. There are a few nice views of the valley from the road, but the trail passes through private land until you see the sign marking the forest service boundary. The woods in this area are quite scenic, with large trees spaced far apart with no branches for the first 15 - 20 feet of trunk. Look for signs of old mines along the trail, as there was a lot of mining activity in this area. The trail ends in a large dirt parking lot that serves the gated dirt bike, ATV, and UTV trailhead. Dispersed camping is permitted in the area of the parking lot, according to the Forest Service. A few flat areas to set up a tent were observed, but no fire rings or proper campsites were present.

Lead Mine is an easy 1.7-mile out and back spur off of the main Langhor trail. The road is level, and the driving surface is mostly hard dirt with a few ruts and protruding rocks. This side of Hyalite Canyon does not get much sun, so the trail can have large mud puddles even days after the rain passes through. There are several clearings adjacent to the road, but there is posted signage that no overnight camping is allowed on this trail. One clearing overlooks a meadow where deer and other wildlife can sometimes be spotted, while the rest look across the mountains on the other side of the canyon. About halfway up, there is an optional climb up to what appears to be a popular shooting spot.