Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Cooke City, Montana

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Miller Mountain Road

Miller Mountain Road is a 1 lane dirt shelf road ascending through a sparse residential area above Cooke City, WY. The road is only somewhat maintained with potholes and loose rock, but the views of…
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Total Miles
3.6
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Henderson Mountain Road

Henderson Mountain Road is accessible from Daisy Pass Road and leads to an old abandoned mine at the top of the mountain. It is a rutted, single-lane shelf road with loose gravel but is worth…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Crazy Lakes

The Crazy Lakes Road travels through a beautiful, remote area near the Wyoming-Montana border. The main route, Crazy Lakes Road, leads to the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness boundary while short side spurs can be driven to…
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Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Su / Fa

Ghost Creek

This little-traveled trail begins as a 2 lane dirt road running through the forest and then turns into a dirt track following a ridge with the surrounding mountains as a backdrop. It follows a private…
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Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Fantan Lake Road

This is a rutted, one-lane dirt trail leading to Fantan Lake. It had 6-8" obstacles and after rains, was full of mud holes along with a couple of small stream crossings Several dispersed camping areas…
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Total Miles
1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Main Fork Rock Creek

This trail runs along Rock Creek and has some amazing views. Some spots have lose rocks but most of it is packed dirt. There are great spots to stop along the way down by the…
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Total Miles
7.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Stillwater River Road

This is a well-maintained gravel road that follows the Stillwater River; it's open year-round with limited access during heavy snowy weather. 6.5 miles is a paved two-lane road west of Absarokee before turning into gravel…
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Total Miles
14.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Lower Parkside

This trail is mainly just for OHV vehicles to get from one trail to another trail. There are some sandy spots with one hill that is pretty steep with loose rocks. This trail goes along…
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Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Blacktail Plateau

The Blacktail Plateau drive offers a unique opportunity to hit the dirt in Yellowstone National Park. To avoid crowds, drive the road in the early morning or evening hours. In doing so you'll spot more…
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Total Miles
6.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Iron Mountain Road

Iron Mountain Road is a very scenic gravel road that becomes slightly narrower the further along you drive. Once passing the entrance gate you officially enter Gallatin National Forest and dispersed campsites can be found…
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Total Miles
7.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

West Bridger Creek Cruise

A well-established trail, with some paved and gravel patches leading to the National Forest, the last 5 miles are the main dirt trail. The trail can be driven up to the Tie Cutter Gulch TH;…
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Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Wicked Creek Loop

Open Dates: 7/16-9/14. Wicked Creek Loop is in the Absaroka Range and part of the Custer Gallatin National Forest on the Eastern side of the Paradise Valley, South of Livingston, Montana. Beginning at Mill Creek…
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Total Miles
16.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Meeteetse Trail

Meeteetse Trail, east access, is located on the Montana and Wyoming border just south of Belfry, MT. The west trail can be accessed just south of Red Lodge, Montana. When accessing the Meeteetse Trail from…
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Total Miles
16.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Sixmile Creek Road

Sixmile Creed Road is a very scenic out and back gravel road that becomes less maintained the further back you discover. The entrance can be found off Dailey Lake Road. From the entrance it is…
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Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Pine Creek

This is a really pretty drive to some nice views and campsites. Nothing technical to worry about, a car could make it through with some determination. There is a small water crossing and some ruts,…
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Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Cottonwood Road

Cottonwood Road, located between Highway 310 and Highway 72, south of Bridger, Montana, provides motorized and OHV access to over 100 square miles of BLM and State land. Bobcat Pass Road, to the west, is…
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Total Miles
19.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Pryor Mountain Road

One of the many access routes to the Pryor Mountains, is Pryor Mountain Road, south of Bridger, MT. Top off your tank in Bridger and head south. Approximately 1.25 miles south on Highway 310 after…
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Total Miles
11.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Olsen Creek

This is a nice drive through the Bridger range that most vehicles can do. The trail forks to Skunk Creek, which has some deep puddles, but nothing a stock truck or SUV wouldn't be able…
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Total Miles
19.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Ashton-Flagg Ranch Lake Road

This backcountry drive connects Flagg Ranch near Yellowstone's south entrance to the farmlands surrounding Ashton, Idaho. The road travels between the roadless Winegar Hole Wilderness to the north and the Jededia Smith Wilderness to the…
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Total Miles
31.9
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Su / Fa

South Pryor Mountain Road

South Pryor Mountain road will lead to South Railbed Road which eventually leads to Warren, MT. Windmills are abundant in this area known as the Pryor Mountain Wind Project. South Pryor Mountain Road is a…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Langohr Offshoot

A rough, but maintained forest service trail off of the main Langohr Road in Hyalite Canyon. There are various dispersed camping spots off of this trail, as well as several beautiful viewpoints to see the…
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Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Cougar Cr Park Boundary

If you want to experience a little Yellowstone but are not planning on going to the park, this trail has a few hidden gems. It is a day-use area and runs right along the Yellowstone…
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Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Moser Views

This trail is a great trail for beginners, involving two steep, off-camber hills at the beginning and middle, and plenty of chunky gravel and loose soil between. At the trail's peak is a phenomenal view…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Cougar C Trail

This is a nice connection trail between Highway 191 and the Whisky Bay trail. It is a broad, well-maintained dirt and gravel trail primarily through tall trees. It's longer but much smoother than the whisky…
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Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Whisky Bay Trail

Are you looking for day-use access to Whisky Bay? This is the main trail across Whisky Bay with loops and fingers off of it with lots of day-use spots along the bay. The trail is…
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Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Madison Arm

This broad, well-maintained dirt and gravel trail runs along Hegben Lake. It can be accessed from Highway 191 and Highway 20 just outside the town of West Yellowstone. The Madison Arm Resort Camp and Marina…
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Total Miles
11
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

South Railbed Road

South Railbed Road leads south along the Pryor Mountain front to Warren, MT. Windmills are abundant in this area, known as the Pryor Mountain Wind Project. South Railbed Road is well maintained and accessible by…
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Total Miles
8.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa / Wi

Whits Lake Trail

This is a beautiful dirt and gravel trail that heads up to a couple of hiking trailheads. There are two designated dispersed campsites on the way up. One had an Airstream parked at it when…
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Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Flagstaff

This beautiful backcountry drive explores the mountains east of Grand Teton National Park that are known as the Mount Leidy Highlands. The main trunk road takes you uphill to an overlook of the Tetons, passes…
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Total Miles
16.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Whisky Bay Day Use 1

There are two day use loops off the Whisky Bay trail; this day use trail is close to highway 191, it's longer than the other day use areas with more pull-offs, and it has some…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp