Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Bull Lake, Montana

South Fork Bull River or NF 410 is an easy, moderately graded Forrest Service road that climbs Snake Creek to the crest and descends down the South Fork Bull River. The roadway has recently been graded, though there is some encroachment from trees and brush from the sides. You will pass the Trailhea...
Learn more about South Fork Bull River

Spar Lake Road or FS #384 is a moderately easy rock and gravel route with moderate climbs and rough surface conditions. The route has moderate use, short sections of degraded pavement from earlier mine activities, and concrete sections to halt erosion from the hillsides. It is typically only one veh...
Learn more about Spar Lake Road

The Auxor Mine Route is USFS #489 and is a moderately trafficked leisurely mountain drive route that takes you from Lightning Creek, USFS #419 west in the Cabinet Mountains to the crest above East Hope, Idaho overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. The gradual gravel ascent has a few switchbacks, as well as ...
Learn more about Auxor Mine Route

Dry Creek Road is a easy, moderately maintained gravel road that is closed to 4x4 traffic in the winter. The road runs high above Dry Creek without access to the water. The trail is heavily wooded but offers occasional mountain views. There are no opportunities for camping along this stretch. The ro...
Learn more about Dry Creek Road

Smith Mountain trail terminates at the remains of a USFS fire lookout west of Troy, Montana. The route is extremely picturesque, offering broad panoramic views of the Cabinet and Purcell Mountains. Cell phone service is generally not accessible on this route. The area is abundant in pine trees, bear...
Learn more about Smith Mountain

This wide easy trail travels right along the banks of the stunning Clark Fork River. You'll pass fields of hay and tons of spectacular bridges and waterways. A pit toilet double boat load is in the area at the trail's end. Plenty of parking and turnaround spaces and fishing docks. It's a short, swee...
Learn more about Johnson Creek

This is a well-traveled and nice graded road. It's mostly wide enough for two rigs to pass without stopping until you get closer to the end, where there are ample pullouts. It's primarily a well-maintained gravel trail with a few washboard sections. Keep your eyes peeled for a few deep dips that cou...
Learn more about Lightning Creek

This short out and back trail is rocky with a few larger washouts. A stock SUV should be able to navigate it slowly. Near the beginning is a well-constructed warming hut with an outdoor fire pit, tent platforms, a pit toilet, and supplies inside. Be sure to read all rules if you plan on using the hu...
Learn more about Moose Creek Trailhead

This trail provides a wonderful showcase of the Kootenai National Forest's beauty. Once leaving the pavement, a maintained gravel road takes you up and over Swede Mountain and down to the Fischer River. The road is the main access to the Swede Mountain Fire Lookout Tower which is still "manned". The...
Learn more about Swede Mountain Runabout

This long slog runs from the valley below up the grade into the mountains. There are great views around many corners of the surrounding hills and the Clark Fork River. It leads up over plenty of large ruts and violent washboard as it twists its way along. At the summit, there are many options of dir...
Learn more about Johnson/Lakeview

Strong Creek OHV route is a moderately used, forested, shale and dirt surface OHV route from East Hope, Idaho to near the top of Round Top Mountain in the Kaniksu National Forest. The route was recorded from the summit to the trailhead. The upper portion of the route has multiple steep switchbacks o...
Learn more about Strong Creek OHV Route

This generally easy trail heads back up to the ridges and deeper into the forest. It's mostly easy with a few larger potholes, and tight switchback turns. The only camping noticed was alongside the road in pullouts, but some of the spots had amazing views. It's a nice easy trail to get to elevation ...
Learn more about West Fork Pilgrim Creek

This mostly graded gravel road runs from the tarmac to the Twin Creek hiking and single-track ATV trail. Although no trailhead sign states it's a single track, motorcycle tracks are evident on the trail. Overall the route is nice and smooth, with potholes that appear out of nowhere. There's a steepe...
Learn more about Twin Creek

This well-groomed trail generally follows the powerlines from the dam all the way to the Marten Creek campground. As it twists its way around, you will get amazing views of the lake and hillsides. Some offshoots may lead to dispersed camping spots, but the campground, complete with pit toilets, is t...
Learn more about Stevens Creek Road

This popular out and back trail leads to the retired fire lookout tower at lunch peak. On a clear day, the views are outstanding. There are a few tighter switchbacks, but generally, it's an easy washboard trail. It's also a popular offshoot trail for the Idaho BDR Motorcycle Route. There are a few n...
Learn more about Lunch Peak

This easy ridge trail cuts across the top of the hills with amazing views of the Clark Fork valley and the Cabinet mountains. There is also access to the Skeleton Creek hiking trail from both ends. There are some decent-sized pullouts to dispersed camps and one outstanding one right in a forestry cl...
Learn more about Lone Cliff Cutover

This fun trail ducks and dives, bobs, and weaves its way around the hillsides. There are a few rutted areas. Some narrow sections with tall grass and a few loose hill climbs. Overall it's pretty narrow without many good spots to allow oncoming to pass. Other than some of the fantastic vistas, the hi...
Learn more about Huckleberry Mountain

This well-graded ridge run is a perfect ride up or down from the mountain above to the primary graded trails below. There are ample pull-offs, a few tight switchbacks, and hardly any potholes to impede one's progress. The views of the Clark Fork river are spectacular, especially on the way down. No ...
Learn more about Stevens Ridge

This narrow trail spurs off the main road and twists and turns its way to the cliff's edge. There are some rocky sections and quite a few rutted-out sections. Here and there are small pullouts one could camp at right along the route. There are only a few brief sections where the vista is visible;if ...
Learn more about Johnson's Vista Trail

This connector trail links the upper ridge trail network to the trails below. There are plenty of tight turns and switchbacks. The occasional offshoot leads to a locked gate or a decent place to dispersed camp. The route can be rutted heavily in some sections, massive potholes full of mud in others,...
Learn more about Ruen Run

South Fork Bull River or NF 410 is an easy, moderately graded Forrest Service road that climbs Snake Creek to the crest and descends down the South Fork Bull River. The roadway has recently been graded, though there is some encroachment from trees and brush from the sides. You will pass the Trailhea...
Learn more about South Fork Bull River

Spar Lake Road or FS #384 is a moderately easy rock and gravel route with moderate climbs and rough surface conditions. The route has moderate use, short sections of degraded pavement from earlier mine activities, and concrete sections to halt erosion from the hillsides. It is typically only one veh...
Learn more about Spar Lake Road

The Auxor Mine Route is USFS #489 and is a moderately trafficked leisurely mountain drive route that takes you from Lightning Creek, USFS #419 west in the Cabinet Mountains to the crest above East Hope, Idaho overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. The gradual gravel ascent has a few switchbacks, as well as ...
Learn more about Auxor Mine Route

Dry Creek Road is a easy, moderately maintained gravel road that is closed to 4x4 traffic in the winter. The road runs high above Dry Creek without access to the water. The trail is heavily wooded but offers occasional mountain views. There are no opportunities for camping along this stretch. The ro...
Learn more about Dry Creek Road

South Fork Bull River or NF 410 is an easy, moderately graded Forrest Service road that climbs Snake Creek to the crest and descends down the South Fork Bull River. The roadway has recently been graded, though there is some encroachment from trees and brush from the sides. You will pass the Trailhea...
Learn more about South Fork Bull River

Spar Lake Road or FS #384 is a moderately easy rock and gravel route with moderate climbs and rough surface conditions. The route has moderate use, short sections of degraded pavement from earlier mine activities, and concrete sections to halt erosion from the hillsides. It is typically only one veh...
Learn more about Spar Lake Road

The Auxor Mine Route is USFS #489 and is a moderately trafficked leisurely mountain drive route that takes you from Lightning Creek, USFS #419 west in the Cabinet Mountains to the crest above East Hope, Idaho overlooking Lake Pend Oreille. The gradual gravel ascent has a few switchbacks, as well as ...
Learn more about Auxor Mine Route

Dry Creek Road is a easy, moderately maintained gravel road that is closed to 4x4 traffic in the winter. The road runs high above Dry Creek without access to the water. The trail is heavily wooded but offers occasional mountain views. There are no opportunities for camping along this stretch. The ro...
Learn more about Dry Creek Road