Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Carlton, Montana

McClain Creek Road is also known as Forest Service Road 1311 and goes from the Bitterroot Valley to Carlton Lake but is gated at the 5-mile mark. The road passes through the former McClay Ranch…
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The Mormon Peak Trail is an out and back at Lolo National Forest, Montana. The ride is very smooth until a bumpy section at the top. There are pull-outs along the trail to camp, but…
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This is a 4x4 high-clearance switchback dirt road. This trail begins through a gravel residential neighborhood; signs ask to drive slowly and keep the dust down. There are a few narrow one-lane sections that run…
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This narrow, easy climb heads from the Bitterroot valley into the sapphire mountains. It begins in a residential area and then hits loose, steep switchbacks to begin the ascent. The trail gets relatively narrow in…
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Fun switchback dirt trail that ends at a small parking area with a nice overlook. This is where the Bass Overlook Hiking trail #392 starts and is part of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Bass Overlook Trailhead…
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Be sure to start your day with a round of frisbee golf at the Blue Mountain Disc Golf Course before continuing up Blue Mountain to find incredible vistas of the Missoula valley. The road is…
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Larch Camp Road is Located in a part of The Lolo National Forest in the South Hills of Missoula, Montana. It is a scenic backcountry road just a few miles from town. Great hiking in…
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Forest Service (FS) #2127-1 is open from 5/16 to 11/30. The 7.3-mile drive along the rugged forest service road is an adventurous and scenic journey. Steep mountainsides offer thrilling moments and breathtaking views of the…
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This is a rocky twisty ridge road. It's open seasonally with a gate near the first bottom switchback. The trail has fantastic views of the Bitterroot Valley and Sapphire Range. The trail is loose and…
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A wide well-grated dirt trail that begins at the base of the Sapphire Mountain range and gains elevation up into the mountains. It is a great trail to access other trails including the Sawmill Ridge…
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This peak tower access road starts with some loose rocky, rutted, steep, and longer duration climbs. There are also a few rainwater diverting hills. Once those are out of the way, the trail is relatively…
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This ridge road blasts across the top of the ridge over the Yukon Saddle. It has long straight always with epic views, a dense forest section, an old burned-out section that's regrowing well, and a…
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This rim road cruises along the top of the hills and has epic views around almost every corner as it twists and turns its way to the Holoman Saddle. There are a few different decent-sized…
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This easy out-and-back passes by a great shooting range spot carved into the hillside about a third of the way along the trail. There are tight turns and muddy puddles from all the little springs…
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This is an enjoyable route that can be completed in 1-2 hours. The route consists of Forest Service roads that will take you through parts of Lolo and Clearwater National forests and is usually free…
Learn more about Elk Meadows - Packers Meadows

This fun little out-and-back deviates from the main trail into the hills. There are lots of twists and turns, dips and dives. It's generally narrow with a few mild rutted sections. Once you pass the…
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This is a pretty wooded dirt trail that runs along the hillsides between McCalla Ridge and St.Mary's. It can be used to connect all three trails up to make a loop. This trail is less…
Learn more about McCalla to St.Mary's Connection

This trail is mostly a 1 but earns the 2 rating in the last mile due to two switchbacks getting to the top of the trail. This trail is used primarily to access the very…
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This trail spurs off from the South Ambrose Trail. It starts out easy with some fun turns and a few dispersed camping spots. As one continues, one will encounter some deeper puddles and washouts. About…
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Dirt and rocky switchback trail running up to McCalla peak. This trail is overgrown and very narrow in a lot of places. Would recommend this trail be traveled in smaller offroad vehicles such as SxS,…
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This scenic, narrow trail twists its way through the trees. There are a few pullouts here and there to pass oncoming traffic and lots of evidence of tree cutting. Be prepared to clear trees if…
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This offshoot of Elk Meadows FS 451 offers fantastic views of the South Fork of Lolo Creek drainage. There are several nice dispersed campsites that have excellent views. The out-and-back extension is worth checking out…
Learn more about Small Creek FS 4292

This out and back starts with decent-sized potholes and dense trees and then opens up to amazing cliffsides with epic views. There are hardly any places to pass oncoming, and no camping spots were noticed…
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This dirt road into the Saphire Mountains is THE smoothest and most effortless way up the mountain range. The grade isn't steep. The potholes are few. The only drawback is that there are few pullouts…
Learn more about Schwartz Creek

This easy ridge road has impressive views of the Bitterroot Valley as it twists its way in and out of the trees. Previous tree clearing makes for a nice open ride. There are a few…
Learn more about Upper Skyline to Cinnabar Saddle

Easy graded forest road with plenty of switchbacks and a few loose gravel sections. It's a nice trail with some views of the valley as you head into the mountains. The lower part of the…
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This is a short and beautiful drive. It's a windy and easy graded road that almost any car can make. Once you pass the residential area, the trail twists back and forth through a beautiful…
Learn more about Big Creek Trailhead

This is an easy backroad that runs along the river and though the forest. It has light grade changes and no major hurdles. It's a great family trip with lots of wildflowers, scenic pullouts, and…
Learn more about Southside Road

This moderate shelf road leads from the valley below near Connor and heads up into the Sapphire Mountains. The beginning is a shelf road with a steep dropoff with tight turns, loose rocky switchbacks, and…
Learn more about Verdy Moccasin Ridge

This is a stunning drive into the Bitterroots from the Bell Crossing area. You start in a residential area and ascend to the trailhead for the Glen Lake hike. Along the way are a few…
Learn more about Smith Ridge Glen Lake