Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Orchard Homes, Montana

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Blue Mountain

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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Total Miles
12.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su

Mormon Peak

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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Total Miles
9.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Larch Camp Road

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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Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Southside Road

Easy Backroad that runs along the river and though the forest. Light grade changes and no major hurdles. Great Family Trip with lots of wildflowers, scenic pullouts, and wildlife viewing opportunities.
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Total Miles
21
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

McClain Creek Road (FS 1311)

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…
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Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Mill Creek

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 a…
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Total Miles
10.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Miller Peak

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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Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Elk Meadows - Packers Meadows

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…
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Total Miles
30.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

8 Mile

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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Total Miles
13.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Sweeney Creek Trail

4x4 high clearance switchback dirt road. This trail begins through a gravel residential neighborhood, signs ask to drive slow and keep the dust down. There are a few narrow one-lane sections that run up the…
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Total Miles
6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

West Greenough

This easy out and back passes by a great shooting range spot carved into the hillside about 1/3 of the way along the trail. There are tight turns and muddy puddles from all the little…
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Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

West Holloman Schwartz

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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Total Miles
4.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Sluice Creek

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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Total Miles
10
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Middle Fork Schwartz

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…
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Total Miles
5.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Bass Overlook Trail

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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Total Miles
8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Albert Lothrop Rd 5563

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…
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Total Miles
13
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Corral Creek Rd 2146

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…
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Total Miles
5.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Verdy Moccasin Ridge

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…
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Total Miles
10.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

West Fork Schwartz Creek

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,…
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Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Schwartz Creek

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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Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Jocko Road

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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Total Miles
30
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

West Fork Butte

This easy scenic trail winds its way up the mountain, eventually reaching a small turnout for the west fork of Butte Lookout. The gate is locked, there is room to park, and a short half-mile…
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Total Miles
13.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Edith Peak 476-1

Make your way up to Edith Peak and enjoy views of the valley floor below, vibrant wildflowers, and (if you're lucky) a snow-capped Ch-paa-qn Peak in spring. This road is usually buried in snow from…
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Total Miles
12.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

East Twin Creek Road

Great back road accessible by almost any car and SUV Road ID# 2117. First, turn off to the left off of Gold Creek Rd is East Twin Creek Road. The road has some blind corners…
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Total Miles
10.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Ambrose Trail

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…
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Total Miles
7.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Upper Six Mile 5598 / Main Six West 4223

An easy road winding its way up Six Mile to Edith Peak. Hopefully, you're not afraid of heights as this road does narrow with steep drops, but there is plenty of room if your stomach…
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Total Miles
7.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Wagon Mountain Road

Wagon Mountain Road travels between Graves Creek Road and Fish Creek Road mostly along a ridge in the Lolo National Forest. When starting at Graves Creek Road, you have the options to exit via Howard…
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Total Miles
16.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Butte Ridge

This short, sweet trail is primarily flat with some muddy sections after recent rain. The main trail is easy but may require tree clearing in spring or after a storm. Near the end, it appears…
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Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

South Ambrose

This fun little out and back deviates from the main trail into the hills. There are lots of twists and turns, dips and dives. It's generally narrow with a few mild rutted sections. Once you…
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Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Upper Skyline to Cinnabar Saddle

This easy ridge road has impressive views of the Bitterroot Valley as it twists its way in and out of the trees. Previous tree clearing makes for a nice open ride. There are a few…
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Total Miles
5.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp