Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Essex, Montana

This is an easy, scenic drive down the east side of Hungry Horse Reservoir. Many developed and primitive camping spots, with numerous lake access points and lots of hiking trails. This is considered the higher-traffic…
Learn more about Hungry Horse Reservoir - East

This trail used to be the original Highway 2 but was abandoned years ago when the highway was rerouted in 1956. There are still remnants of old broken asphalt and stone retaining walls are still…
Learn more about Old Highway 2

This is a scenic drive down the west side of Hungry Horse Reservoir. There are plenty of developed and primitive camping spots, and lake access points everywhere. The road is maintained, and paved for the…
Learn more about Hungry Horse Reservoir - West

Great views and free camp spots along this trail. It is an easy gravel road that can easily be used by larger vehicles and campers. A little creek and waterfall can be seen at the…
Learn more about Skyland

This is a beautiful drive into areas of dense woods, mountain creeks, and seasonal waterfalls, with up-close views of the Great Northern Mountain. In the spring, be aware of lingering snow and clay mud, as…
Learn more about Emery Creek

Take this fun cut across from Desert Mountain to Emery Creek through dense woods and you will be rewarded with up-close views of the Great Northern Mountain. In the spring, be aware of lingering snow…
Learn more about Emery Creek Desert Leg

This is a scenic road that leads to the top of Desert Mountain where you can get a spectacular nearly 240 degree view of the surrounding area at an elevation of 6,415. There is also…
Learn more about Desert Mountain

Fun, scenic trail that leads to epic hiking. Road is rough and narrow, but still passable with most 2wd cars. Expect potholes, washboard, and steep sections. You'll arrive at the Camp Misery trailhead about 30…
Learn more about Jewel Basin Road

This does not take you to Strawberry Lake, but rather the trailhead to hike into the lake. The trail is narrow, rocky, and steep in some sections. There was a wide variety of cars and…
Learn more about Strawberry Lake Trail

This is an out-and-back route to a waterfall and scenic area. There is an old pumphouse station along a dam structure. There are very scenic views and a quick little run to get your tires…
Learn more about Junior Dam

This is a quick, scenic drive with several trailheads for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and dirt bikes. The road is well maintained with no real obstacles except potholes and shallow ruts. You'll find several…
Learn more about Peter's Ridge Road

This is fun, easy trail with great views of the Flathead Valley. The road is maintained and accessible during late spring, summer and fall. There are several trailheads for hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking and…
Learn more about Trail Creek

This is a well maintained gravel road that meanders through Glacier National Park north of Lake McDonald. Many areas around this road have experienced a wild fire in recent history and caution should be taken…
Learn more about Inside North Fork Rd

Fun, easy-going trail with great views of the Swan Valley and Swan mountain range! No major obstacles and well kept, with plenty of hiking and epic mountain biking trails and a small pond along the…
Learn more about Mission Divide/Crane Mtn Road

This is an amazing trail that begins at the north end of Whitefish Lake and meanders through Stillwater State Forest, Flathead National Forest, past Upper Whitefish Lake and up to Red Meadow Lake. The trail…
Learn more about Red Meadow Creek

Cedar Ridge NF-1690 is an easy 4x4 trail located north of Columbia Falls, Montana, and is accessed directly from N Fork Road. The gravel surface is generally smooth, with a few potholes and occasional standing…
Learn more about Cedar Ridge NF-1690

Upper Lion Creek - NF9769 is a short, scenic forest road located in the Swan Valley of northwest Montana. It leads to the Lion Creek Trailhead, a popular access point for hiking and backcountry exploration.…
Learn more about Upper Lion Creek - NF9769

Big Cr Canyon Creek - NF316 is an easy gravel road located north of Columbia Falls, Montana, with direct access from N Fork Road. This route is commonly used to reach Moose Lake Campground. The…
Learn more about Big Cr Canyon Creek - NF316

Falls Creek Alder Creek - NF901 is a forest road located in Montana's scenic Swan Valley. This gravel route winds through dense timber and climbs to several elevated overlooks with sweeping views across the valley…
Learn more about Falls Creek Alder Creek - NF901

Unmaintained gravel road through state forest with many cutoff roads/trails that go along with this area. Narrow bridge crossings and plenty of washboard rough spots increase the time it takes to go the little over…
Learn more about Coal Creek to Dead Horse #317

Spectacular views of Flathead Lake and Kalispell. Smooth, well maintained, and easy going. No obstacles, but the first two miles are residential, and you may run into logging operations depending on the time of day.…
Learn more about Cramer Creek to Patrick Creek

Hell Roaring Canyon is a moderately easy SxS trail in Montana's Mission Mountains. It begins as a smooth logging road before narrowing into a rugged path that climbs toward a rockslide area. The route offers…
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This is a fun, easy-going trail that twists and turns through the trees with limited views of the Mission Valley and Flathead Lake. Some areas do have a fair share of potholes and loose rocks,…
Learn more about Minesinger to Hidden Lake Pt. 2

Easy, maintained scenic drive. The first few miles from Foys Canyon Road are residential. There are plenty of scenic pull-offs to enjoy, and the road provides access to the Foys-to-Blacktail hiking/biking trail. Emmons Creek intersects…
Learn more about Patrick Creek to Emmons Creek

This is a fun, easy-going trail that twists and turns through the trees with limited views of the Mission Valley and Flathead Lake. Some areas do have a fair share of potholes and loose rocks,…
Learn more about Minesinger to Hidden Lake Pt.1

Hallowat Creek North - NF315 is a scenic forest road located north of Columbia Falls, Montana, accessed via North Fork Road. This route leads toward Moose Lake Campground, but deep snow can linger into late…
Learn more about Hallowat Creek North - NF315

This is a fun, easy drive with great views of the valley. The trail is well maintained and there are no obstacles. This route begins in Lakeside, and leads to a scenic overlook of the…
Learn more about Lakeside to Blacktail

Bowman Lake Road is an 11-mile out-and-back trail in Glacier National Park that takes you up to Bowman Lake. Bowman Lake is more popular than Kintla Lake, with more visitors. The road is a maintained…
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This is a great out-and-back trail that begins in the little town of Polebridge. This road does enter Glacier National Park, so be prepared to pay the entrance fee, and depending on the time of…
Learn more about Kintla Lakes

This wide easy potholed trail provides access to the activities around Holland Lake. A lodge appears to offer horseback rides and a place to stay if you don't feel like camping. There are many hiking…
Learn more about Holland Lake