Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Stevensville, Montana

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 has adequate parking for both cars and trailers. The overlook is a short walk from the p...
Learn more about Bass Overlook Trail

The McCalla to St.Mary’s Connection is an ideal route for novice offroaders and scenic tourers looking for a peaceful, wooded dirt trail that links McCalla Ridge to the St. Mary’s area. Spanning approximately 3.0 miles, this point-to-point connector serves as a crucial route to tie multiple trails t...
Learn more about McCalla to St.Mary's Connection

Dirt and rocky switchback trail running up to McCalla peak. This trail is overgrown and very narrow in a lot of places. Would recommend this trail be traveled in smaller offroad vehicles such as SxS, ATV, or Dirtbike. There is a campsite or area to park a truck and trailer at the beginning of th...
Learn more about McCalla Switchbacks

This trail is mostly a 1 but earns the 2 rating in the last mile due to two switchbacks getting to the top of the trail. This trail is used primarily to access the very popular St.Mary's hiking trailhead. There is a small parking area at the top that tightly accommodates about 10 vehicles. From the ...
Learn more about St. Mary's Peak Trail

This is a short and beautiful drive. It's a windy and easy graded road that almost any car can make. Once you pass the residential area, the trail twists back and forth through a beautiful canyon and ends at a hiking trailhead with several parking spots, a pit toilet, and one official campsite with ...
Learn more about Big Creek Trailhead

This is a stunning drive into the Bitterroots from the Bell Crossing area. You start in a residential area and ascend to the trailhead for the Glen Lake hike. Along the way are a few hidden waterfalls, some dispersed camping spots, and a few breathtaking corners as you climb above the Bitterroot Val...
Learn more about Smith Ridge Glen Lake

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 up the ridges with pull-outs at the top and bottom of each section. Take note of pull-ou...
Learn more about Sweeney Creek Trail

This is an offshoot from the main trail. Seasonally closed Oct 14th through June 16th. It features forest views and chances to spot deer and elk. There is a small dispersed campsite at the end of the trail and a larger-style campsite on the way. The larger site has evidence of large bonfires and man...
Learn more about Lower Smith Ridge

Smith Ridge Dead End offers a tight, scenic forest crawl for high-clearance four-wheel-drive owners and SxS riders seeking a brief detour off the main Smith Creek route. Spanning approximately 0.7 miles through a dense canopy, this unpaved spur begins with dispersed camping opportunities before maki...
Learn more about Smith Ridge Dead End

A grassy offshoot from Smiths Trail. Seasonally closed from Oct 14th through June 16th. This trail features a beautiful ride through the woods on a lesser traveled trail. Please use caution when stopping in the taller grasses in the summer months as hot exhaust could spark a fire, based on the heig...
Learn more about Smiths Grassy Offshoot

Easy graded forest road with plenty of switchbacks and a few loose gravel sections. It's a nice trail with some views of the valley as you head into the mountains. The lower part of the trail takes you through town and along a nice creek briefly. As you climb, there are a few spots to pull off and c...
Learn more about Sawmill Saddle

This is a twisty dirt out-and-back trail gaining elevation up to a nice campsite or turn around. It's a mostly treed trail with some beautiful views out to the Bitterroot Valley where the trees open up. Some of the trees are pines and others are aspens; it's a beautiful area to see in the fall when...
Learn more about Smith Ridge

Easy dirt trail safe for most 4WD and 2WD vehicles all the way to the Gold Creek Campground. The trail continues past the Gold Creek campground but turns into 4WD high clearance only. The trail begins through a neighborhood and is well-maintained gravel, watch for pedestrians walking their dogs. Th...
Learn more about Gold Creek Trail

South Ambrose is an engaging 3.2-mile out-and-back trail designed for high-clearance four-wheel-drive vehicles and SxSs looking to escape into the scenic Sapphire Mountains of the Bitterroot National Forest. Branching off Ambrose Creek Road (Forest Development Road 428) onto Road 428A, this route cl...
Learn more about South Ambrose

Middle Ambrose is a scenic off-road trail ideal for ATV, SxS, and dirt bike enthusiasts looking to explore the rugged Sapphire Mountains of Montana. Branching off from the South Ambrose Trail, this route spans approximately 3.3 miles and begins with an easy-going dirt path winding through dense fore...
Learn more about Middle Ambrose

Easy dirt forest road, less traveled and pretty overgrown. No problem for SxS and smaller vehicles. Small trucks and small 4x4 SUVs would make it but might incur scratches. Larger vehicles would need to do some trail maintenance to proceed. Low hanging tree across the trail in one spot. The trail is...
Learn more about Gash Sweathouse Face Trail

A well-maintained dirt road that is easily driven or accessible by all types of vehicles including 2WD passenger cars. The first half of the trail is a nice winding drive through tall pine trees the second half of the trail opens up to mountain views over the Bitterroot Valley and a few spots look o...
Learn more about Bear Creek Overlook Trail

The name says it all this road runs up to one of the higher ones in the area. There are incredible vistas and decent dispersed camping spots--a few offshoot trails and a narrow section closer to the top. Once the trail begins to narrow, there are a few tighter turns, fewer spots for oncoming to pass...
Learn more about High Road

This section of the Bitterroot-Rock Creek Divide trail, also known as FS 313, is ATV and dirt bike-only. North of Ambrose Point, FS 313 is open to all use, and south of the Sawmill intersection, 313 is non-motorized. This portion of the trail, starting from Ambrose Point and going south, is well use...
Learn more about FS 313 North

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 parts and has many low branches. Be aware of some rockslide areas and frequent slides ...
Learn more about 8 Mile

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 has adequate parking for both cars and trailers. The overlook is a short walk from the p...
Learn more about Bass Overlook Trail

The McCalla to St.Mary’s Connection is an ideal route for novice offroaders and scenic tourers looking for a peaceful, wooded dirt trail that links McCalla Ridge to the St. Mary’s area. Spanning approximately 3.0 miles, this point-to-point connector serves as a crucial route to tie multiple trails t...
Learn more about McCalla to St.Mary's Connection

Dirt and rocky switchback trail running up to McCalla peak. This trail is overgrown and very narrow in a lot of places. Would recommend this trail be traveled in smaller offroad vehicles such as SxS, ATV, or Dirtbike. There is a campsite or area to park a truck and trailer at the beginning of th...
Learn more about McCalla Switchbacks

This trail is mostly a 1 but earns the 2 rating in the last mile due to two switchbacks getting to the top of the trail. This trail is used primarily to access the very popular St.Mary's hiking trailhead. There is a small parking area at the top that tightly accommodates about 10 vehicles. From the ...
Learn more about St. Mary's Peak 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 has adequate parking for both cars and trailers. The overlook is a short walk from the p...
Learn more about Bass Overlook Trail

The McCalla to St.Mary’s Connection is an ideal route for novice offroaders and scenic tourers looking for a peaceful, wooded dirt trail that links McCalla Ridge to the St. Mary’s area. Spanning approximately 3.0 miles, this point-to-point connector serves as a crucial route to tie multiple trails t...
Learn more about McCalla to St.Mary's Connection

Dirt and rocky switchback trail running up to McCalla peak. This trail is overgrown and very narrow in a lot of places. Would recommend this trail be traveled in smaller offroad vehicles such as SxS, ATV, or Dirtbike. There is a campsite or area to park a truck and trailer at the beginning of th...
Learn more about McCalla Switchbacks

This trail is mostly a 1 but earns the 2 rating in the last mile due to two switchbacks getting to the top of the trail. This trail is used primarily to access the very popular St.Mary's hiking trailhead. There is a small parking area at the top that tightly accommodates about 10 vehicles. From the ...
Learn more about St. Mary's Peak Trail