Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Heron, Montana

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

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 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 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 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 narrow, steep run to the top is rutted and rocky with a few loose climbs. There are excellent views, and if you're lucky, the lookout rental cabin road will be open for you to get the whole way to the top. If not, you should respect the privacy of those who rented the lookout cabin. There is on...
Learn more about Gem Peak

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

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

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

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

This narrow, bumpy out and back trail heads into the hills and gets narrower and narrower the further you go. There aren't a lot of spots to camp, but there are plenty of opportunities to scratch your paint. The trail ends at an unimpressive campsite, but if you are looking for a remote spot with a ...
Learn more about Derr Point

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 easy climb gradually heads into the hills. It's pretty wooded, and the forest is dense in some spots. There's a slight break in the trees here and there to get a glimpse of a view. The trail is mostly easy, with some ruts, loose sections, and more significant dips at the erosion stoppers. It's ...
Learn more about North Branch of Martin Creek

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

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

This nicely graded trail begins at the inlet of Martin Creek Bay and runs alongside the creek as it works its way into the forest. There is plenty of dispersed camping sites along the way. If you prefer a more established place to camp, the Martin Creek campground is an excellent choice near the beg...
Learn more about Lower Marten Creek

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

Bloom Peak trail starts on the west side of Noxon Reservoir, Montana, crosses the Idaho border, and completes near Pritchard, Idaho. This is primarily a gravel route with fantastic views and culminates with panoramic views at Bloom Peak. The route utilizes USFS roads #322 (Minton Peak Rd), Clark For...
Learn more about Bloom Peak Trail

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

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

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 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 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

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

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 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 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