Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Charlos Heights, Montana

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Lost Horse Ridgeline Lower

Beautiful ridgeline trail running up along the side of the mountain. This is a well-maintained dirt and gravel road that is wide enough in most places for two vehicles to pass. There are a few…
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Total Miles
7.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Lost Horse Creek Trail

This is a beautiful trail that leads from US 93 up to Twin Lakes. The trail follows Lost Horse Creek for much of the drive and offers excellent camping opportunities at spots spaced out along…
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Total Miles
20.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Moose Creek/Old Mine

This can be used as an out and back trail ending at a nice little campsite with a view, or this trail can be connected up to Hays Creek Moose Creek Trail and Lost Horse…
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Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Como Crest

Short, quick, and scenic trail in the Bitterroot mountains that starts/ends at Lake Como. The dirt road is maintained in the summer months but not likely in the winter months. A gate at the beginning…
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Total Miles
14.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Roaring Lion

This is a short out-and-back dirt trail up one of the valleys with stunning panoramic views. There was a fire through the valley at some point that burned all the trees opening up what can…
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Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Hays Creek Moose Creek

This is a nice ridgeline connection trail that when linked up with Moose Creek/Old Mine Trail and Lost Horse Ridgeline creates a full loop. The beginning of Lost Horse Observation Point is at one end…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Lost Horse Observation Point

This is a truly stunning view out over the mountains and valley. It is one of the few in this area that can be driven to, most of the best viewpoints in this area are…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Up and Up

This route starts as an easy dirt trail, accessible to 2WD and low clearance vehicles, with sweeping views over Lake Como. The higher the elevation, the better it gets. About halfway up, the trail turns…
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Total Miles
11
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Tin Cup Dispersed

This is a shorter, very rutted dirt trail running along Tin Cup Creek with lots of dispersed camping access. Some sites are close to the stream with water access; some are just nestled in the…
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Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Blodgett Canyon Overlook

Well maintained wide dirt road leading to several very popular hiking trails.Blodgett Overlook 1.4 mile hiking trail and Canyon Lake is 5 miles.There is a nice parking area for 10-15 cars at the end of…
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Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Tin Cup Creek

This trail is an easy, grated gravel and dirt run. You wouldn't ever think this neat area was here. The turn for the trail is right in the cute town of Darby. It begins running…
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Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Blodgett Hiking Trail and Campground

This is a short out and back trail with stunning views of the rock formations up the canyon. The middle portion of the trail is through private land. At the end of the trail is…
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Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

The Magruder Corridor

This scenic trail is a must see. It traverses from Idaho to Montana along an historic route. Most of the main trail is graded forest road with some paved sections. It's very remote with no…
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Total Miles
139.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Mill Creek Trailhead

A very short out and back it's less than a mile Easily .8, most of it is through a neighborhood with private homes. The signage does ask that you stay on the main road. At…
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Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Gird Point Lookout

This is a short gravel trail that leads up to the Gird Point fire tower. The trail is gravel, and easily navigated by most vehicles. It also has several offshoots leading to hiking and other…
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Total Miles
14.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Cow Creek Road and Shiefman Hiking Trail

Generally, this is an easy dirt road that consists of multiple switchbacks and some decent elevation climbs. It begins in a neighborhood where it is asked to please drive slowly, and after, it turns into…
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Total Miles
5.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Trapper Trailhead Side Trail

A narrow and rocky offshoot. A muddy section near the beginning could be impassable when wet. Lots of ruts and rocks with narrow sections could cause tire damage. The trail doesn't really go anywhere; it…
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Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Trapper Creek Trailhead

An easy narrow trail that leads to the Trapper Creek Trailhead. There is lots of fishing access along the way and many dispersed campsites. Lots of them are tucked nicely off the main trail. There…
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Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Lower Pierce Creek

This is an easy road into the mountains with many offshoots. The lower section ends at a locked gate for private property. The middle section is seasonally closed. There were few dispersed spots to camp…
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Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Lower Willow St Clair

Easy little forest road that begins in a housing area and winds through private property until you reach the forest. There's a small creek alongside the road and a few pullouts. Saw one dispersed camping…
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Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Lloyd Scenic Loop

A scenic loop drive along the hillside through a nicely thinned forest. Plenty of hiking trails crisscross the hillside, and there were two herds of Elk off in the trees. The easy graded trail has…
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Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bear Creek Overlook Trail

A well-maintained dirt road that is easily driven or accessible by all types of vehicles including 2WD passenger cars. The first half of the trail is a nice winding drive through tall pine trees the…
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Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Upper Willow Saint Clair

An easy mostly graded trail into the hills. Outstanding Views of the Bitterroot valley below. There is intermittent cell service. Saw a herd of deer on the trail. The last few miles become more narrow…
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Total Miles
11.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Gash Creek

Most of the trail up is a smooth easy graded road and would be no issue for any vehicle but it has been trimmed on either side of the road so it would be fine…
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Total Miles
6.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

St Clair

The trail starts easy and flat. Be on the lookout for downed trees and rock slides or boulders in the trail. It gets more difficult the further back you go. Mud holes and springs run…
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Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Gash Sweathouse Face Trail

Easy dirt forest road, less traveled and pretty overgrown. No problem for SxS and smaller vehicles. Small trucks and small 4x4 SUVs would make it but might incur scratches. Larger vehicles would need to do…
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Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Northern Skalkaho -Rye

This is the northern access section from the pavement of Skalkaho Highway back and up into the mountains. There is a sizeable dispersed camping area right at the beginning near the pavement with large level…
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Total Miles
9.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Gilbert No Creek

This trail starts with loose gravel and then transitions to some rutted hard pack. Gilbert creek does run along the bottom, at least to the first big turn with a grassy open camping spot. Then…
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Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Willow Mountain to Burnt Fork Lake Hiking trail

Easy graded narrow trail. Lots of pullouts to pass other drivers; some of the corners are steeper with looser gravel. Be alert for people collecting firewood and their trucks parked right in the road as…
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Total Miles
19.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Smiths Grassy Offshoot

A grassy offshoot from Smiths Trail. Seasonally closed from Oct 14th through June 16th. This trail features a beautiful ride through the woods on a lesser traveled trail. Please use caution when stopping in the…
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Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp