Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Missoula, Montana

Be sure to start your day with a round of frisbee golf at the Blue Mountain Disc Golf Course before continuing up Blue Mountain to find incredible vistas of the Missoula valley. The road is…
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Larch Camp Road is Located in a part of The Lolo National Forest in the South Hills of Missoula, Montana. It is a scenic backcountry road just a few miles from town. Great hiking in…
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Forest Service (FS) #2127-1 is open from 5/16 to 11/30. The 7.3-mile drive along the rugged forest service road is an adventurous and scenic journey. Steep mountainsides offer thrilling moments and breathtaking views of the…
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The Mormon Peak Trail is an out and back at Lolo National Forest, Montana. The ride is very smooth until a bumpy section at the top. There are pull-outs along the trail to camp, but…
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This is an easy backroad that runs along the river and though the forest. It has light grade changes and no major hurdles. It's a great family trip with lots of wildflowers, scenic pullouts, and…
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This peak tower access road starts with some loose rocky, rutted, steep, and longer duration climbs. There are also a few rainwater diverting hills. Once those are out of the way, the trail is relatively…
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McClain Creek Road is also known as Forest Service Road 1311 and goes from the Bitterroot Valley to Carlton Lake but is gated at the 5-mile mark. The road passes through the former McClay Ranch…
Learn more about McClain Creek Road (FS 1311)

This easy out-and-back passes by a great shooting range spot carved into the hillside about a third of the way along the trail. There are tight turns and muddy puddles from all the little springs…
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If you want to rattle every bolt loose on your vehicle, then this is the road for you. This is an extremely rough road that connects Arlee and Frenchtown. There aren't many views, and there's…
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This rim road cruises along the top of the hills and has epic views around almost every corner as it twists and turns its way to the Holoman Saddle. There are a few different decent-sized…
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This ridge road blasts across the top of the ridge over the Yukon Saddle. It has long straight always with epic views, a dense forest section, an old burned-out section that's regrowing well, and a…
Learn more about Middle Fork Schwartz

This narrow, easy climb heads from the Bitterroot valley into the sapphire mountains. It begins in a residential area and then hits loose, steep switchbacks to begin the ascent. The trail gets relatively narrow in…
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This is a rocky twisty ridge road. It's open seasonally with a gate near the first bottom switchback. The trail has fantastic views of the Bitterroot Valley and Sapphire Range. The trail is loose and…
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Feeling like going for a hike without all the sweat and effort? Hop on your ATV or Dirt Bike and head up Edith Peak Trail 42. Weave your way between the ponderosas and larches, shimmy…
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This moderate shelf road leads from the valley below near Connor and heads up into the Sapphire Mountains. The beginning is a shelf road with a steep dropoff with tight turns, loose rocky switchbacks, and…
Learn more about Verdy Moccasin Ridge

This is not the super smooth, easy way into the Sapphire Mountain Range. This trail is rocky, with a few tight corners and a steep climb. There are a few spots with a nice view,…
Learn more about West Fork Schwartz Creek

This is a 4x4 high-clearance switchback dirt road. This trail begins through a gravel residential neighborhood; signs ask to drive slowly and keep the dust down. There are a few narrow one-lane sections that run…
Learn more about Sweeney Creek Trail

This trail is an easy track that climbs up Sheep Mountain while gaining a lot of elevation. The trail is wide until you reach the upper portion where passing becomes more difficult. There is a…
Learn more about East Twin Creek Road 2117 (To Sheep Mountain hiking Trailhead)

This is an enjoyable route that can be completed in 1-2 hours. The route consists of Forest Service roads that will take you through parts of Lolo and Clearwater National forests and is usually free…
Learn more about Elk Meadows - Packers Meadows

This dirt road into the Saphire Mountains is THE smoothest and most effortless way up the mountain range. The grade isn't steep. The potholes are few. The only drawback is that there are few pullouts…
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Travel this easy section through the Jocko Canyon along the stunning Jocko River. Other sights along this route include the pristine Jocko Lakes and Placid Lake.
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This easy trail heads straight up into the mountains from the valley below. The first mile and a half crosses through private property, so please be respectful and stick to the trail. Once past the…
Learn more about East Fork Rattlesnake

This trail starts as a spur off of Gold Creek road just before the locked gate at mile 7 bridge. The trail is a fairly high use road that was built for logging trucks so…
Learn more about 2103 West Fork Gold Creek

This is an out-and-back route in the Lolo National Forest. The first right-hand turn takes you to a gate just before a bridge that crosses Bear Creek. The left turn takes you up the west…
Learn more about Bear Creek FS 504 and 4239

Fun switchback dirt trail that ends at a small parking area with a nice overlook. This is where the Bass Overlook Hiking trail #392 starts and is part of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Bass Overlook Trailhead…
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Climb your way up into the hills above Alberton and enjoy the views of the Clark Fork river as well as the hills of the Lolo National Forest. This well maintained dirt road is open…
Learn more about Albert Lothrop Rd 5563

This is an easy dirt trail out to the 7 Mile Bridge. There is a locked gate at the bridge, but one can continue on foot across, and there is a nice dispersed campsite on…
Learn more about Gold Creek to 7 Mile Bridge

This offshoot of Elk Meadows FS 451 offers fantastic views of the South Fork of Lolo Creek drainage. There are several nice dispersed campsites that have excellent views. The out-and-back extension is worth checking out…
Learn more about Small Creek FS 4292

A wide well-grated dirt trail that begins at the base of the Sapphire Mountain range and gains elevation up into the mountains. It is a great trail to access other trails including the Sawmill Ridge…
Learn more about Ambrose Trail

Corral Creek road draws its name from the corral at the north end of the road and offers access to beautiful views of the Missoula and Frenchtown areas as well as access to the Lolo…
Learn more about Corral Creek Rd 2146