Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Alder, Montana

The Barton Gulch trail is a scenic drive that runs across the northern reaches of the Gravelly Range in Montana. Explore its winding two-tracks, and you'll witness abandoned cabins nestled by babbling brooks, open meadows with mountain views, and rugged ridgeline climbs towards that famous big sky. ...
Learn more about Barton Gulch

Beautiful trail with awesome views. Easy trail that gets narrow in spots and had some low hanging fallen trees that could be an issue if you don't want scratches in your paint. Stock 4x4s won't have a problem. Gravelly range is closed during the winter so summer time or late spring is the best time ...
Learn more about Barton Gulch and Offshoots

Axolotl Lakes Road is like a fine sampling of the beauty Montana has to offer. It begins in one of the state's charming towns, Virginia City, complete with weathered wooden buildings and small restaurants and bars loaded with character. It then climbs into the hills, giving you a taste of its lonely...
Learn more about Axolotl Lakes Road

This is a regularly maintained Forest Service Road that takes you from the Tobacco Mountains down to Highway 287, approximately 3 miles southwest of Nevada City, Montana. The route takes you to some very interesting viewpoints. A waypoint is included with this track that you don't want to miss. It i...
Learn more about Granite Creek Road (161/49)

This is a very short trail to Cliff Lake at the top of the McKelvey Lake Trail and accessed from Mine Lake. Although short, the lake is absolutely worth seeing and the fishing is great. This trail looks wide enough for a rig or SxS but is a 50" ATV or dirt bike trail only!
Learn more about Cliff Lake Trail

The Tobacco Mountains are a fun day of exploring lots of shorter side trails. The amount of time here really depends on how much exploring you want to do. There is nothing extremely difficult here from a trail perspective; in fact, this is a great area for the less experienced driver to get some whe...
Learn more about Virginia Creek (1249)

Fairly easy trail with some great views. Trail got narrow in some spots from freshly cut trees. Some quick switchbacks could be challenging in a longer wheelbase. Not a lot of traffic on the trail and obstacles were mostly the rutted dirt trail. Some loose rocks but nothing to worry about.
Learn more about Granite Lake

This old mining road off Granite Lake Road features granite faces and expansive views of the Tobacco Root Mountains. The surface is dirt and stretches of loose rock, generally passable in dry conditions. A few pull-offs provide dispersed camping opportunities. The trail ends at a saddle that marks t...
Learn more about Tobacco Gold Pass

The trail travels to Sureshot and Upper Sureshot Lakes before climbing up and down a mountain saddle via a series of switchbacks. The trail travels in and out of pine forest with great views along the way. A mix of offroad and OHV vehicles use the trail. Stay on designated trails. Pack out trash. Dr...
Learn more about Sureshot Lakes

Warm Springs Creek Road takes you from the Gravelly Range ridgeline to Continental Divide/Upper Ruby Road. Assuming you start on the upper ridge along Gravelly Range Road, you go down the road looking back on the area you just traveled if you came up from FS 237 to Gravelly Ridge Road. This offers a...
Learn more about Warm Springs Creek Road (FA 163)/Cow Camp Road (FS 1234)

This road is a main traffic corridor between the N Valley Road, near the southern MT border and Alder, MT. There are numerous homes and ranch buildings in the area with additional traffic. This input includes a very short segment of that FS100 road with long sections yet to be input. The road is two...
Learn more about Continental Divide/Upper Ruby Road (FS100) (Parital)

Gravelly Range Road is a very long road that runs from Red Rock Lakes Road west of the Island Park, ID to a point just east of Virginia City, MT. The section of road included herein is approximately 14.5 miles that connects FS237 to Warm Springs Road (FS163). This is a beautiful drive along the top ...
Learn more about Gravelly Range Road (FS290) (Partial)

This trail offers either an opportunity to leave the ridge on Gravelly Range Road and descend to a trailhead at McAtee Bridge near State Highway 287 or to climb up to Gravelly Range Road. This review will assume you are using this as a trailhead starting your adventure up to the spectacular views pr...
Learn more about Johnny Ridge Road - FS324

A popular fishing spot at the beginning of the road, it passes through many private plots of land and leads into National Forest and BLM land. There are a couple of camping spots along the trail and it's popular among locals. The road starts and ends along Devils Canyon Creek. The end of the road be...
Learn more about Devil's Canyon

Tucked into the Madison Valley just west of Norris, Revenue Flats is one of southwestern Montana's best-kept secrets — a sprawling BLM playground offering free dispersed camping, rock climbing, mountain biking, and wide-open riding just 36 miles from Bozeman. Sweeping views of the Tobacco Root and M...
Learn more about Revenue Flats BLM

This mostly dirt loop trail takes you from the downtown of Whitehall into the countryside and drives along the Jefferson River. There are several spots along the trail that have excellent views of the river from above. Most of the land along this trail is private, but there is a small square of BLM ...
Learn more about Point of Jefferson River Loop

This is an easy grated out and back dirt road begins through some open range before turning up into the mountains. Watch for range cattle on the road early in the trail. Once the trail starts heading up into the mountains a creek appears along the left side of the trail. There are a couple of areas ...
Learn more about Potosi Willow Creek

Until recently, this road has been closed because of a washout. It has been fixed, and being able to take this trail again is fantastic. From the top, you have majestic views of the surrounding area and Black Butte. The beauty of the area is difficult to describe, and the Graverlly Range is definite...
Learn more about Cottonwood Creek Road - FS1012

Standard Creek Road (FS237) is a beautiful climb from the Madison River Basin up into the Gravelly Range. The views are spectacular and many side trails exist for exploring. The views often show three to four separate mountain ranges in the distance. As you get up high you will get above the tree li...
Learn more about Standard Creek Rd w/Wolverine Basin

This is a side trail that most people will pass by as they marvel at the views all around. At the end of this short trail is an exceptional old cabin with outbuildings and a pump house (water capture). The views are absolutely fabulous. Don't miss out, but please leave everything as you find it so o...
Learn more about Rebish Camp

The Barton Gulch trail is a scenic drive that runs across the northern reaches of the Gravelly Range in Montana. Explore its winding two-tracks, and you'll witness abandoned cabins nestled by babbling brooks, open meadows with mountain views, and rugged ridgeline climbs towards that famous big sky. ...
Learn more about Barton Gulch

Beautiful trail with awesome views. Easy trail that gets narrow in spots and had some low hanging fallen trees that could be an issue if you don't want scratches in your paint. Stock 4x4s won't have a problem. Gravelly range is closed during the winter so summer time or late spring is the best time ...
Learn more about Barton Gulch and Offshoots

Axolotl Lakes Road is like a fine sampling of the beauty Montana has to offer. It begins in one of the state's charming towns, Virginia City, complete with weathered wooden buildings and small restaurants and bars loaded with character. It then climbs into the hills, giving you a taste of its lonely...
Learn more about Axolotl Lakes Road

This is a regularly maintained Forest Service Road that takes you from the Tobacco Mountains down to Highway 287, approximately 3 miles southwest of Nevada City, Montana. The route takes you to some very interesting viewpoints. A waypoint is included with this track that you don't want to miss. It i...
Learn more about Granite Creek Road (161/49)

The Barton Gulch trail is a scenic drive that runs across the northern reaches of the Gravelly Range in Montana. Explore its winding two-tracks, and you'll witness abandoned cabins nestled by babbling brooks, open meadows with mountain views, and rugged ridgeline climbs towards that famous big sky. ...
Learn more about Barton Gulch

Beautiful trail with awesome views. Easy trail that gets narrow in spots and had some low hanging fallen trees that could be an issue if you don't want scratches in your paint. Stock 4x4s won't have a problem. Gravelly range is closed during the winter so summer time or late spring is the best time ...
Learn more about Barton Gulch and Offshoots

Axolotl Lakes Road is like a fine sampling of the beauty Montana has to offer. It begins in one of the state's charming towns, Virginia City, complete with weathered wooden buildings and small restaurants and bars loaded with character. It then climbs into the hills, giving you a taste of its lonely...
Learn more about Axolotl Lakes Road

This is a regularly maintained Forest Service Road that takes you from the Tobacco Mountains down to Highway 287, approximately 3 miles southwest of Nevada City, Montana. The route takes you to some very interesting viewpoints. A waypoint is included with this track that you don't want to miss. It i...
Learn more about Granite Creek Road (161/49)