Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Townsend, Montana

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Indian Creek Road

This 10-mile trail takes you from Highway 287 near Townsend into the Helena National Forest. You go through a beautiful canyon, gain 3500 feet in elevation, and experience the majesty of Montana. The scenery is…
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Total Miles
9.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Townsend To Winston

This 68-mile trail takes you from Old Woman's Grave Road just outside of Townsend, on a winding, twisting path through the National Forest, to Winston. You will travel across the National Guard Training grounds, up…
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Total Miles
65.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Indian Creek Road Spur 1

This 8-mile RT trail explores the Helena National Forest north of Indian Creek Road. The views of Canyon Ferry Lake and the valley are breathtaking. The forest is healthy and well-maintained. The elevation along this…
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Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Weston Creek Lower Portion

The Weston Creek Lower Portion Trail connects Indian Creek Road Trail to the Weston Creek Upper Portion Trail, the Weston Creek Spur #1, the Merrel Springs Trail, and the Cold Springs Road Trail. It's two…
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Total Miles
1.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / 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

Cold Springs Road

This trail connects Weston Creek Lower Portion with Weston Creek Upper Portion by going south around Giant Hill. It's just over 4 miles one way and runs between 5300and 6200 feet in the Helena National…
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Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Merrel Springs

This section of the Merrel Springs Trail goes down to 5900 feet in the Helena National Forest and connects to the Weston Creek Trail. It's just under 1 mile and goes along the West Fork…
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Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Badger Creek

The Badger Creek Trail is just under 3 miles and connects Indian Creek Trail with Merrel Springs Trail. The highest elevation on this trail is 7353 feet, and you drop down to 6400 feet at…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Weston Creek Upper Portion

Weston Creek Trail connects Indian Creek Road Trail to the Canyon Ferry to Winston via Helena National Forest Trail at the Eagle Guard Cabin. It's two miles, climbing up to 6200 feet in the National…
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Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Crow Creek

This 7-mile one-way trail cuts across the Helena National Forest by Glendale Butte and Big Mountain. It connects to Norris Gulch on the south end and Weasel Creek on the north end. You drive along…
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Total Miles
6.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Skyline Mine Trail

An easy trail with gorgeous views and an old mine to explore at the top. This trail gets very narrow, with potential for pinstriping on vehicles that pass through, but the gorgeous views at the…
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Total Miles
6.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Radersburg Pass Loop

This 8-mile track loops off of the Skyline Mine Trail on Radersburg Pass Road and circles back via Tramway Road. You climb to an elevation of 7600 feet in Deerlodge National Forest. There is some…
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Total Miles
7.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Oregon Gulch

This 5-mile trail connects Kingsbury Spur Trail to York Gulch Trail. You gain almost 2000 feet in elevation, rising to 6329 feet at the highest point. The scenery is spectacular, the forest is healthy and…
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Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Magpie Gulch

This 8-mile track in the Helena National Forest, east of Canyon Ferry Lake, connects Magpie Ridge Trail to the Magpie Creek to Avalanche Creek Trail. You get up to 6900 feet near Hunters Gulch. The…
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Total Miles
7.2
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Skyline Mine Spur

This 4-mile track connects Elkhorn Road to Skyline Mine Trail in the Deerlodge National Forest. You turn off of Elkhorn Road near Tacoma Gulch and basically travel northeast to a high point of 6500 feet.…
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Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

York Gulch

The York Gulch Trail connects York Road to Hedges Mountain, Oregon Gulch, Kingsberry Spur, and the Magpie Creek to Avalanche Creek Trails. You go from 3900 feet to just over 6200 feet in the Helena…
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Total Miles
6.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Hedges Mountain

This 3-mile RT track takes you to Hedges Mountain in the Helena National Forest at an elevation of 7131 feet. The scenery is spectacular, the forest is healthy and well-maintained, and the wildlife includes deer,…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Sunshine Ridge

This track goes about 3 miles north and west of the Magpie Creek to Avalanche Creek Trail. It goes across the Helena National Forest to the boundary with private property. The highest elevation on this…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Magpie Upper

This track completes the upper portion of Magpie. It runs through the Helena National Forest to the private property boundary. There is a camping area near the end of this trail. The scenery is spectacular,…
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Total Miles
0.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Nelson Road

This 6-mile stretch of Nelson Road goes from York Road to the Favorite Gulch/Owl Gulch Loop Trail. The scenery is spectacular, the forest is healthy and well-maintained, and the wildlife includes deer, elk, moose, and…
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Total Miles
5.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Owl Gulch Loop

This 3-mile loop connects the Favorite Gulch Trail via Owl Gulch to the Pipeline Trail and Pipeline Loop. Private property crossings are allowed if you stay on the trail. The scenery is spectacular, the forest…
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Total Miles
3.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Wood Chute to Blue Bird Mine

This 7-mile trail takes you from the Wickes Tunnel: Corbin to Basin Trail up to an elevation of 7500 feet, with fantastic views of Boulder. This route includes steep inclines and declines, as you gain…
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Total Miles
6.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Wickes Road

Wickes Road Trail is an alternate way to go from Basin to Corbin, and you go up over the top of the mountain. The highest elevation is just under 6800 feet, but if the tunnel…
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Total Miles
2.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Flynn Gulch Road

This 1.68-mile trail takes you from Bluebird Mine Loop to Wood Chute Cr to Bluebird Mine Trail. All private property crossings are allowed if you stay on the trail. The scenery is beautiful. The views…
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Total Miles
1.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Bigfoot Creek to Hay Creek

Running just east of Montana's State Route 399 / Whitetail Road, you'll find this trail meandering through the eastern slopes of Deer Lodge National Forest. Outstanding views, a few obstacles and trails just wide enough…
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Total Miles
17.7
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Su

South Beaver

This is a short rutty loop. You'll find a steep hill at the end that adds some excitement to your trip. Pretty simple work for most 4x4 vehicles. Always come prepared with rescue gear, especially…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Cattle Drive to Bear Gulch

This 12-mile trail starts at Montana Highway 69 near Boulder, MT, at the intersection with Cattle Drive Road. You drive along the Boulder River, go under I-15, and then turn into Galena Gulch on the…
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Total Miles
12
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Puddle Splasher

This 2.4-mile trail takes only 15-20 minutes to complete. In late July there were multiple puddles to cross, so there is probably water in this area routinely. It's an excellent route to work your way…
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Total Miles
2.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Little Boulder River Rd

This is a great little out-and-back trail that starts out fairly easy with some loose rocks and tight pinches. It gets harder half way through, when the trail gets steeper up a very loose and…
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Total Miles
8.9
Tech Rating
3 Moderate
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

North Hills Recreation Area

The North Hills Recreation Area trail is a dirt road in overall good condition. The trail is accessible by 2WD car if you can stay out of the ruts. Along the North Hills Recreation Area…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa