Beginner Off-Road Trails
Near Troy, Montana

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

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 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

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

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 ...
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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

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

Strong Creek OHV route is a moderately used, forested, shale and dirt surface OHV route from East Hope, Idaho to near the top of Round Top Mountain in the Kaniksu National Forest. The route was recorded from the summit to the trailhead. The upper portion of the route has multiple steep switchbacks o...
Learn more about Strong Creek OHV Route

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

Black Mountain is USFS road #274 and includes the road Twenty-mile Leonia which is USFS road #408;it is a moderately used gravel road in the Kaniksu National Forest near Naples, Idaho. The route has a mostly easy grade with some mild inclines near the top of Black Mountain. The route is subject to d...
Learn more about Black Mountain

Solomon Lake Road is USFS #2404 and #627 in the Kaniksu National Forest which leads to Solomon Lake as well as other hiking and snowmobile routes in the area which are seasonally gated. The road is a lightly used gravel single-lane road with some overgrowth and some pullouts that have been used for ...
Learn more about Solomon Lake

This popular trail is a mostly graded washboard and potholes and is generally wide enough for oncoming to pass. There are ample pullouts in the narrower sections. The trail twists and turns through dense forest and clear-cut logging sections, occasionally coming to lovely cliffside clearings with ex...
Learn more about Trestle Creek Trail

Solomon Mountain is USFS #2549 and #2549A in the Kaniksu National Forest which partially circles near the top of Solomon Mountain. This route can only be accessed by turning off USFS #2404, the Solomon Lake road. Maps show USFS road #2549 south of the junction, but this road has been gated by priva...
Learn more about Solomon 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

Hawkins Lakes/Pete Creek, also known as FS 338/5910, climbs high into the farthest northwest regions of Montana in the Purcell Mountains. The route accesses Hawkins Lakes, Burke Lake, Northwest Peak Lookout, Midge Creek, and Garver Mountain Trailhead. There are multiple dispersed camping locations a...
Learn more about Hawkins Lakes

Deer Ridge is USFS roads #2541 and #2540 in the Kaniksu National Forest which leads to Deer Ridge Lookout. The road is a moderately used, well-maintained, single-lane, gravel road with multiple offshoot roads and trails. The road is a mild 6% grade or less and easily traveled, though weather and con...
Learn more about Deer Ridge

This long slog runs from the valley below up the grade into the mountains. There are great views around many corners of the surrounding hills and the Clark Fork River. It leads up over plenty of large ruts and violent washboard as it twists its way along. At the summit, there are many options of dir...
Learn more about Johnson/Lakeview

This is a comfortably accessible dirt road suitable for 2WD vehicles. Near the trail's outset, you'll find a brief hike leading to Snow Falls, where you can witness two impressive waterfalls. As you continue along the path, it meanders through a dense forest, eventually revealing a spacious alpine l...
Learn more about Roman Nose Lake/Snow Creek

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

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 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

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

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 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