Beginner Off-Road Trails Near McAllister, Montana

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Axolotl Lakes Road

Axolotl Lakes Road is like a fine sampling of the beauty Montana has to offer. It begins in one of the state's charming towns, Virginia City, complete with weathered wooden buildings and small restaurants and…
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Total Miles
11.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Cliff Lake Trail

This is a very short trail to Cliff Lake at the top of the McKelvey Lake Trail and accessed from Mine Lake. Although short, the lake is absolutely worth seeing and the fishing is great.…
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Total Miles
0.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Potosi Willow Creek

This is an easy grated out and back dirt road begins through some open range before turning up into the mountains. Watch for range cattle on the road early in the trail. Once the trail…
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Total Miles
13.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Granite Lake

Fairly easy trail with some great views. Trail got narrow in some spots from freshly cut trees. Some quick switchbacks could be challenging in a longer wheelbase. Not a lot of traffic on the trail…
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Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Barton Gulch

The Barton Gulch trail is a scenic drive that runs across the northern reaches of the Gravelly Range in Montana. Explore its winding two-tracks, and you'll witness abandoned cabins nestled by babbling brooks, open meadows…
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Total Miles
17.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Barton Gulch and Offshoots

Beautiful trail with awesome views. Easy trail that gets narrow in spots and had some low hanging fallen trees that could be an issue if you don't want scratches in your paint. Stock 4x4s won't…
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Total Miles
24
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Johnny Ridge Road - FS324

This trail offers either an opportunity to leave the ridge on Gravelly Range Road and descend to a trailhead at McAtee Bridge near State Highway 287 or to climb up to Gravelly Range Road. This…
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Total Miles
14.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Gravelly Range Road (FS290) (Partial)

Gravelly Range Road is a very long road that runs from Red Rock Lakes Road west of the Island Park, ID to a point just east of Virginia City, MT. The section of road included…
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Total Miles
13.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Warm Springs Creek Road (FA 163) w/Cow Camp Road (FS1234)

Warm Springs Creek Road takes you from the Gravelly Range ridge line to Continental Divide/Upper Ruby Road. Assuming you start on the upper ridge along Gravelly Range Road, you go down the road looking back…
Learn more about Warm Springs Creek Road (FA 163) w/Cow Camp Road (FS1234)
Total Miles
10.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Centennial Divide

This easy and scenic route connects Montana's Centennial Valley and Ruby River Reservoir. Along its path, you'll pass a well-known bison ranch, trace portions of the Ruby River, and spend most of your trip flanked…
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Total Miles
54.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su

Continental Divide/Upper Ruby Road (FS100) (Parital)

This road is a main traffic corridor between the N Valley Road, near the southern MT border and Alder, MT. There are numerous homes and ranch buildings in the area with additional traffic. This input…
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Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Wilson Creek Divide Road

This is a very nice and easy forest service road with several decent-sized boulders sticking up in the road. Once you reach the peak and start down the other side, it narrows to a tight,…
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Total Miles
26.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Point of Jefferson River Loop

This mostly dirt loop trail takes you from the downtown of Whitehall into the countryside and drives along the Jefferson River. There are several spots along the trail that have excellent views of the river…
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Total Miles
16.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Standard Creek Rd w/Wolverine Basin

Standard Creek Road (FS237) is a beautiful climb from the Madison River Basin up into the Gravelly Range. The views are spectacular and many side trails exist for exploring. The views often show three to…
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Total Miles
22.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Gravelly Range South (FS290)

This is the southeastern portion of this long Forest Service Road through the upper plateau area of the Gravelly Range. On the northern end of this section, you will be mesmerized by the beauty of…
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Total Miles
20.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Moose Creek to Portal Creek Rd

Heading south on 191, take a left onto Moose Creek Road; this trail starts off fairly gentle with plenty of camping areas to make basecamp. Beautiful aspens, golden late September, line the first stretch of…
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Total Miles
13
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Storm Castle to Line Creek Rd

Heading from North to South this trail narrows and grows slightly more challenging as you gain elevation. Near the top the track appears to be sensitive to rain and snowmelt and likely becomes quite muddy…
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Total Miles
12
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Rebish Camp

This is a side trail that most people will pass by as they marvel at the views all around by don't. At the end of this short trail is an exceptional old cabin with outbuildings…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Eagle Nest River Access

This is a nice out-and-back dirt and gravel trail to the Eagle Nest day-use area with access to the Madison River. There is also a day-use river access spot at the beginning of the trail…
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Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

West Fork Madison (FS 209)

This trail follows the West Fork of the Madison River, which is a beautiful stream that highlights the beauty of the valley you will be following. This is an exceptionally beautiful area and we were…
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Total Miles
6.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Little Bear Road Offshoot

Essentially a rough gravel road, this is a curvy and pot-hole-filled mountain road that forks off of Wilson Creek Divide Road. You'll likely want to air down your tires so as to not rattle your…
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Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Beaver Creek Gallatin Forest

This is a lovely little hidden gem of a trail just outside West Yellowstone in the mountains. Beaver Creek runs right along a good portion of the beginning of this trail, and there are lots…
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Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Jackpine Gulch (FS 1209)

This area shows the ravages of the fire that went through this region two years ago. It is sad to see the damage but, encouraging to see the logging operations that are going on to…
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Total Miles
16
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Boulder to Toston via Black Sage Pass

For those who like to take the road less traveled, this back road trek will take you between the small Montana towns of Boulder and Toston. Traversing Jefferson and Broadwater counties this route takes about…
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Total Miles
40.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Jackknife - Cliff Lake Bench (FS 9640/41)

We were hoping to see Cliff or Wade Lake when we went down this trail, but we did not. But there were some great views as we moved along this bench. The grass was deep,…
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Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Eureka Basin Road (FS 347)

This road is actually a connector between Gravelly Range Road and Centennial Divide Road. Like Gravelly, this road has some spectacular views, and on the southern end, you will drop off the upper mesa at…
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Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Fish Creek Ridge Road (FS 9626)

If you're not careful, you will drive past this trail from either end. The only thing marking a trail on the Eureka Basin end is a very old FS sign that informs you that this…
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Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

East Bench (FS 8378)

If you are looking for a short trail with mind-blowing views at the end, this is it. We almost didn't take it but decided to see where it led. This trail puts you directly above…
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Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

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

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