Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Pioneer Junction, Montana

This trail provides a wonderful showcase of the Kootenai National Forest's beauty. Once leaving the pavement, a maintained gravel road takes you up and over Swede Mountain and down to the Fischer River. The road is the main access to the Swede Mountain Fire Lookout Tower which is still "manned". The...
Learn more about Swede Mountain Runabout

This trail is well maintained from the west side due to a communication site at the top of Blue Mountain. Once reaching the top of the mountain, there is a lookout tower allowing 360-degree views, and on clear days one can see Glacier National Park. It is mostly gravel when approaching from the west...
Learn more about Big Blue View

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

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 is an easy and scenic route starting from the Historic Fairview Ranger Station and ending at Lake Koocanusa and the Cripple Horse Marina and RV Park for refreshments or food. There are also multiple off-grid camping spots along this route and a great side hike to the Warland Peak lookout tower ...
Learn more about Summit Springs/Cripple Horse

Smith Mountain trail terminates at the remains of a USFS fire lookout west of Troy, Montana. The route is extremely picturesque, offering broad panoramic views of the Cabinet and Purcell Mountains. Cell phone service is generally not accessible on this route. The area is abundant in pine trees, bear...
Learn more about Smith Mountain

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 is a well-traveled and nice graded road. It's mostly wide enough for two rigs to pass without stopping until you get closer to the end, where there are ample pullouts. It's primarily a well-maintained gravel trail with a few washboard sections. Keep your eyes peeled for a few deep dips that cou...
Learn more about Lightning Creek

This short out and back trail is rocky with a few larger washouts. A stock SUV should be able to navigate it slowly. Near the beginning is a well-constructed warming hut with an outdoor fire pit, tent platforms, a pit toilet, and supplies inside. Be sure to read all rules if you plan on using the hu...
Learn more about Moose Creek Trailhead

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

This route combines a scenic and easy road to get to Meadow Peak Lookout, a dirt bike-legal trail, and a hiking trail from the top of the mountain. The road is gated at the very top, so you will have to walk approximately a quarter mile to get to the lookout tower, but worth it for the expansive vie...
Learn more about Meadow Peak Lookout

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 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

Twenty Mile Leonia, or FS 408, is an easy gravel route that climbs from Boulder Creek up to Black Mountain FS 274. The route is typically only one vehicle wide with overhanging pine trees. There are a few dispersed camp sites near where the middle fork of Boulder Creek enters, and again where Katka ...
Learn more about Twenty Mile Leonia

This popular out and back trail leads to the retired fire lookout tower at lunch peak. On a clear day, the views are outstanding. There are a few tighter switchbacks, but generally, it's an easy washboard trail. It's also a popular offshoot trail for the Idaho BDR Motorcycle Route. There are a few n...
Learn more about Lunch Peak

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 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

Lower Marten Creek is an easy, scenic dirt road perfect for beginners, families, and anyone looking to escape into the dense forests of western Montana near Noxon Reservoir. Starting near the inlet of Marten Creek Bay, also known as Martin Creek Bay, this nicely graded 6.7-mile route gently climbs f...
Learn more about Lower Marten Creek

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

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 is an easy and scenic route starting from the Historic Fairview Ranger Station and ending at Lake Koocanusa and the Cripple Horse Marina and RV Park for refreshments or food. There are also multiple off-grid camping spots along this route and a great side hike to the Warland Peak lookout tower ...
Learn more about Summit Springs/Cripple Horse

Smith Mountain trail terminates at the remains of a USFS fire lookout west of Troy, Montana. The route is extremely picturesque, offering broad panoramic views of the Cabinet and Purcell Mountains. Cell phone service is generally not accessible on this route. The area is abundant in pine trees, bear...
Learn more about Smith Mountain

This trail provides a wonderful showcase of the Kootenai National Forest's beauty. Once leaving the pavement, a maintained gravel road takes you up and over Swede Mountain and down to the Fischer River. The road is the main access to the Swede Mountain Fire Lookout Tower which is still "manned". The...
Learn more about Swede Mountain Runabout

This trail is well maintained from the west side due to a communication site at the top of Blue Mountain. Once reaching the top of the mountain, there is a lookout tower allowing 360-degree views, and on clear days one can see Glacier National Park. It is mostly gravel when approaching from the west...
Learn more about Big Blue View

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

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