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Trail of the Week
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Episodes
Trail of the WeekMill Creek
Mill Creek Trail is a scenic 10-mile hike nestled in the Bitterroot Mountains near Hamilton. The trail follows a creek through a breathtaking canyon in the…
Trail of the WeekHighwood Mountains
Climb into the heart of the Highwoods on the Center Ridge Trail, a 6-mile hike that rewards with sweeping views and solitude. Wind through aspen groves, grassy…
Trail of the WeekWild Horse Island
Only accessible by boat, Wild Horse Island in Flathead Lake features a small trail system with big views. Beginning at Skeeko Bay boat landing, hike along the…
Trail of the WeekRinging Rocks
Ringing Rocks is one of the most unique places in Montana. This boulder field just west of Butte is one of only seven places in the world where the rocks chime…
Trail of the WeekMakoshika State Park
This 4.5-mile out-and-back hike in Makoshika State Park may be one of the most unique hikes in the state. Hungry Joe Overlook, named after an old prospector…
Trail of the WeekDillon High Trails
Thanks to the Beaverhead Trails Coalition, there is a growing trail system providing recreational opportunities just west of Dillon. The High Trails System…
Trail of the WeekSwift Creek
The Swift Creek Loop Trail offers sanctuary in old-growth forest right outside of Whitefish. This flat loop, just over a mile long, passes through a lush…
Trail of the WeekLimekiln Loop
The 6.5-mile Limekiln Loop Trail in the Judith Mountains offers big views just north of Lewistown. If you hike the loop counter-clockwise the first 1.5 miles…
Trail of the WeekBirch Lake in the Jewel Basin
Explore the Jewel Basin Hiking Area east of Kalispell. Begin at the Echo Broken Leg Trailhead and climb steadily through alpine forests and wildflower meadows…
Trail of the WeekBear Creek Overlook
Explore Bear Creek Overlook Trail near Victor for spectacular views of the Bitterroot Mountains. As you hike up a series of switchbacks, plentiful pine trees…
Trail of the WeekGlacier View
The Glacier View Mountain Trail north of Columbia Falls begins on the border of Glacier National Park. This out-and-back trail is about 8 miles roundtrip, and…
Trail of the WeekSuce Creek
The Suce Creek Trail is a lovely and less-visited route on the edge of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. It’s at its best in the fall, when the aspens glow…
Trail of the WeekRefuge Point
Enjoy a nordic ski adventure along Refuge Point Trail on the banks of the Madison River near Yellowstone National Park. Follow blue diamond markers through…
Trail of the WeekSeeley Creek Nordic
The Seeley Creek Trails are great all year round, but they really come to life when it snows. Volunteers groom this 26-kilometer trail network near Seeley Lake…
Trail of the WeekTen Mile Environmental Trail
This short hike features a picnic area and an easily accessible trail for kids and adults alike. The Ten Mile Environmental Trail near Rimini begins at a small…
Trail of the WeekSqaylth-Kwum Creek Trail
Enjoy a snowshoe adventure along a ridgeline to the boundary of the Cube Iron-Silcox Roadless Area. This popular access route near Thompson Falls sees little…
Trail of the WeekCrosscut Ski Trails
Year-round fun awaits at Crosscut Mountain Sports Center in Bridger Canyon. In the winter, explore 28 miles of groomed trails on Nordic skis. The trail system…
Trail of the WeekBigfork Foothills XC SKi
If you’re looking to try cross-country skiing for the first time this winter, the Big Fork Community Nordic Center in the Flathead Valley is a great place to…
Trail of the WeekMarshall Lake
This winter hike to Marshall Lake in the Mission Mountains offers breathtaking views of the Swan Range. Cross-country ski or snowshoe just over a mile and…
Trail of the WeekStemple Pass Ski Area
Cross-country ski along the Continental Divide Trail from Stemple Pass for spectacular views of the Lincoln Valley. The majority of this ungroomed trail is on…
Trail of the WeekJumbo Peak
Explore wild country in the Silver Butte Fisher River drainage on a hike to Jumbo Peak. You may encounter other hikers or horseback riders on the trail, but…
Trail of the WeekLarry Creek
Explore the foothills of the Bitterroot Mountains on the Larry Creek Ecology Loop near Florence. This trail is popular among hikers, mountain bikers, and trail…
Trail of the WeekMount Haggin XC Ski Area
Explore Mount Haggin in southwest Montana under the cover of snow. Cross-country ski through Montana's largest Wildlife Management Area, which provides…
Trail of the WeekOusel Falls
Located in the heart of Big Sky, the Ousel Falls Park Trail is just a short stroll to a cascading waterfall. The smooth, broad path descends gently to the…
Trail of the WeekJohnson Peak
Hike to the McCart Lookout in southwest Montana for expansive views of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness. As you gradually climb Johnson Peak Trail to the…
Trail of the WeekBig Spar Lake
Near the proposed Scotchman Peaks Wilderness, Spar Lake offers superb huckleberry picking in the summer and the opportunity to admire old-growth forest…
Trail of the WeekStrawberry Hill
Strawberry Hill Recreation Area near Miles City spans over 4,000 acres, featuring native grass and sagebrush, ponderosa pine, and rock formations unique to…
Trail of the WeekLost Trail Wildlife Refuge
Lost Trail Wildlife Refuge west of Kalispell offers year-round opportunities to watch migratory birds, a resident elk herd, and other wildlife. In 2022, the…
Trail of the WeekMay Creek Cabin
Enjoy this family-friendly hike to May Creek Cabin in southwest Montana. Soon after hitting the trail, you’ll cross a small wooden footbridge and follow May…
Trail of the WeekBailey Lake
Enjoy a short, family-friendly hike to Bailey Lake on the edge of the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness. Leaving the trailhead, you’ll hike through dense forest…
Trail of the WeekTahepia Lake
Tahepia Lake Trail in the East Pioneer Mountains is a great place to get a taste of this rugged range. From the trailhead, follow Jacobsen Creek, alternating…
Trail of the WeekCh-paa-qn Peak
Explore the Reservation Divide Roadless Area on a hike to Ch-paa-qn Peak, an iconic landmark overlooking Missoula. The hike along the trail includes short…
Trail of the WeekBaker Lake
Baker Lake Trail, a shining example of stewardship success, is a short, but steep, hike into the Selway-Bitteroot Wilderness offers a peaceful retreat to…
Trail of the WeekSauerkraut Wall
One of the newest hiking trails in the Lincoln Ranger District, the Sauerkraut Wall Trail consists of a series of switchbacks down the side of a narrow valley…
- Trail of the Week
Mill Creek
Depart from the seldom-used Mill Creek Trailhead in the Bear Creek Wildlife Management Area for a 7-mile out-and-back hike into the Lee Metcalf Wilderness…
Trail of the WeekLost Creek Falls
Just outside of Anaconda, the hike to Lost Creek Falls is short, but rewarding. Cascading 50 feet down moss-covered rocks and dense forest, the falls offer a…
Trail of the WeekKading Trail
Take a hike, or mountain bike, along the Kading Trail west of Helena. This 7.5-mile out-and-back hike winds through the Little Blackfoot River watershed and…
Trail of the WeekEast Foothill Trail to Holland Lake
Enjoy a wooded trek along the foothills of the Swan Mountains in northwest Montana. Beginning at Cooney Lookout, traverse south along gently rolling terrain…
Trail of the WeekTen Lakes Wilderness Study Area
The Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area in the Kootenai National Forest is cherished backcountry, spanning nearly 15 thousand acres alongside the Canadian border…
Trail of the WeekCedar Lake
Take a 7-mile out-and-back hike to Cedar Lake in the northern Mission Mountains Wilderness. This challenging, but rewarding, route will lead you alongside…
Trail of the WeekMarshall Mountain Park
Explore one of Montana’s newest public parks just outside of Missoula. Thanks to the efforts of Friends of Marshall Mountain, Five Valleys Land Trust, MTB…
Trail of the WeekJones Gulch
On the edge of the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Jones Gulch is an easy hike that provides great views into Montana’s premier wilderness area. Leaving the…
Trail of the WeekBoulder Lakes
East of Helena, the Boulder Lakes Trail leads you to a series of sparkling alpine lakes in the Big Belt Mountains. The main trail follows a reclaimed road…
Trail of the WeekVinal Creek
Deep in the Yaak Valley, the Vinal Creek Trail is a one-of-a-kind adventure through northwest Montana’s inland rainforest. The trail follows Vinal Creek…
Trail of the WeekElk Creek Trail to Cataract Falls
It’s not often that a flat half-mile hike leads you to a stunning waterfall, but the Elk Creek Trail isn’t your usual hike. Starting about 40 minutes west of…
Trail of the WeekMile Creek Face
For a taste of the Continental Divide Trail, check out the Mile Creek Face Trail in southwest Montana. Wide-open views and easy walking are the name of the…
Trail of the WeekDeadman Lake
Way down in southwestern Montana, the Deadman Lake trail is a scenic gem with a wonderful view of the Italian Peaks. The trail actually starts from Deadman…
Trail of the WeekWagner Basin Trail
If you’re looking for a short hike that’s perfect for kids, the Wagner Basin Trail fits the bill. From its starting point on the Rocky Mountain Front west of…
Trail of the WeekUpsidedown Creek Trail
The Upsidedown Creek Trail, in the heart of the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness, offers endless possibilities for adventure. The trail switchbacks through the…
Trail of the WeekLucifer Lake
The hike to Lucifer Lake, in the Mission Mountains Tribal Wilderness east of St. Ignatius, is rugged, but this stunning alpine lake is well worth the effort…
Trail of the WeekLittle Boulder Trail
At the far southern end of the Bitterroot Valley, the Little Boulder Trail is a lightly used path to a group of gorgeous alpine lakes. The trail climbs…
Trail of the WeekSchley Mountain Trail
At just 1.5 miles, the Schley Mountain Trail isn’t long, but it packs a scenic punch. This largely forested trail on the Idaho border west of Missoula climbs…
Trail of the WeekMeadow Peak Lookout
Hiking to Meadow Peak Lookout between Libby and Kalispell is a surefire way to enjoy incredible vistas and serious solitude. While the climb to the lookout…
Trail of the WeekFishtrap Lake Trail
North of Thompson Falls, the Fishtrap Lake Trail is a lush and quiet loop around two forested lakes. Starting at a secluded Forest Service campground, the…
Trail of the WeekTrespass Creek Trail
The Crazy Mountains are dotted with stunning alpine lakes, and Campfire Lake might be the loveliest of them all. To get there, follow the Trespass Creek Trail…
Trail of the WeekSylvia Lake
In the Flathead National Forest west of Whitefish, the hike to Sylvia Lake Overlook delivers sweeping 360-degree views of northwest Montana. The trail starts…
Trail of the WeekHelena Valley Regulating Reservoir
Just a stone’s throw from town, the hike around the Helena Valley Regulating Reservoir is a beautiful change of pace when the town trails are snowy or muddy…
Trail of the WeekAntone Peak
In southwest Montana’s Snowcrest Range, the hike up Antone Peak serves up big views of the surrounding country, and you’re likely to have them all to yourself…
Trail of the WeekBuck Creek
Tucked away in southeast Montana’s Powder River Valley, Buck Creek is an 8,000-acre patch of shortgrass prairie speckled with sagebrush, sandstone…