Montana is a hiker's paradise. From the alpine glaciers of Glacier National Park to the badlands formations of Makoshika State Park, the state offers unmatched variety. This directory covers 61 hiking destinations across Montana, organized by type and sorted by visitor reviews. Every listing includes Google ratings and one-tap directions to the trailhead.
🏔️ National Park Trails (5)
Iconic trails in and around Glacier National Park — plan ahead, as trailhead parking fills early in summer.
Grinnell Glacier Trailhead
★★★★★4.9 (244)Location: Browning, MT 59417
Nearest Town: West Glacier
Running Eagle Falls Nature Trail
★★★★★4.8 (117)Location: East Glacier Park, MT 59434
Nearest Town: East Glacier
Glacier Lake Trailhead (Red Lodge)
★★★★★5.0 (33)Location: US Hwy 212 W, Red Lodge, MT 59068
Nearest Town: Red Lodge
Glacier Lake Trailhead (Seeley Lake)
★★★★★4.9 (27)Location: Seeley Lake, MT 59868
Nearest Town: St. Ignatius
Beaver Pond Trail Head
★★★★★4.9 (9)Location: Glacier National Park, Browning, MT 59417
Nearest Town: East Glacier
🌲 State Parks with Trails (10)
Montana's state parks offer well-maintained trails with interpretive signs, picnic areas, and often campground access.
Giant Springs State Park
★★★★★4.8 (2,478)Location: 4803 Giant Springs Rd, Great Falls, MT 59405
Nearest Town: Great Falls
Makoshika State Park
★★★★★4.8 (637)Location: 1301 Snyder St, Glendive, MT 59330
Nearest Town: Glendive
West Shore / Flathead Lake State Park
★★★★★4.7 (465)Location: 17768 US-93, Lakeside, MT 59922
Nearest Town: Bigfork
Missouri Headwaters State Park
★★★★★4.5 (453)Location: 1585 Trident Rd, Three Forks, MT 59752
Nearest Town: Three Forks
Big Arm State Park
★★★★★4.7 (367)Location: 28031 Big Arm State Park Rd, Big Arm, MT 59910
Nearest Town: Polson
Ackley Lake State Park
★★★★★4.4 (112)Location: 989 Ackley Lake Rd, Hobson, MT 59452
Nearest Town: Hobson
Thompson Falls State Recreation Area
★★★★★4.5 (111)Location: 2220 Blue Slide Rd, Thompson Falls, MT 59873
Nearest Town: Thompson Falls
Milltown State Park Overlook
★★★★★4.5 (81)Location: 1353 Deer Creek Rd, Missoula, MT 59802
Nearest Town: Missoula
Pirogue Island State Park
★★★★★4.2 (54)Location: Miles City, MT 59301
Nearest Town: Miles City
Lower Sluice Boxes State Park Trailhead
★★★★★4.6 (26)Location: Evans Riceville Rd, Belt, MT 59412
Nearest Town: Belt
💧 Waterfall Trails (2)
Short-to-moderate hikes leading to Montana's most photogenic waterfalls.
Kootenai Falls Trailhead
★★★★★4.8 (91)Location: US-2, Troy, MT 59935
Nearest Town: Troy
Memorial Falls Trailhead
★★★★★4.9 (65)Location: 3557 US-89, Neihart, MT 59465
Nearest Town: Neihart
🥾 Trails & Trailheads (44)
Community trails, forest service trailheads, and local hiking destinations across the state.
Blue Mountain Trailhead
★★★★★4.7 (311)Location: Forest Hill Ln, Missoula, MT 59804
Nearest Town: Missoula
Four Dances Trailhead
★★★★★4.8 (175)Location: 1100 Coburn Rd, Billings, MT 59101
Nearest Town: Billings
Kootenai Creek Trailhead
★★★★★4.9 (167)Location: Stevensville, MT 59870
Nearest Town: Stevensville
Fairy Lake Trailhead
★★★★★4.8 (160)Location: Bozeman, MT 59715
Nearest Town: Belgrade
Lion Mtn Trailhead, Whitefish Trail
★★★★★4.7 (146)Location: 2209 Mountainside Dr, Whitefish, MT 59937
Nearest Town: Whitefish
Pine Creek Lake Trailhead
★★★★★4.8 (137)Location: Livingston, MT 59047
Nearest Town: Livingston
SKQ Dam Overlook Trailhead
★★★★★4.7 (104)Location: Polson, MT 59860
Nearest Town: Polson
Columbia Mountain
★★★★★4.7 (104)Location: Berne Rd, Columbia Falls, MT 59912
Nearest Town: Columbia Falls
South Shore Trailhead
★★★★★4.8 (88)Location: Great Falls, MT 59405
Nearest Town: Great Falls
Gallagator Trail
★★★★★4.7 (77)Location: Gallagator Linear Trail, Bozeman, MT 59715
Nearest Town: Bozeman
Homestake Trailhead
★★★★★4.5 (76)Location: Whitehall, MT 59759
Nearest Town: Butte
Pattee Canyon Trailhead
★★★★★4.7 (44)Location: County Rd 533, Missoula, MT 59803
Nearest Town: Missoula
Maud S Canyon Trailhead
★★★★★4.7 (34)Location: 4800 Saddle Rock Rd, Butte, MT 59701
Nearest Town: Butte
Strawberry Lake Trailhead
★★★★★4.6 (34)Location: Krause Basin Rd, Kalispell, MT 59901
Nearest Town: Bigfork
Copperway Regional Trail
★★★★★4.1 (34)Location: Anaconda, MT 59711
Nearest Town: Anaconda
Old Shooting Range Trailhead
★★★★★4.6 (30)Location: 1782 Davis Gulch Rd, Helena, MT 59601
Nearest Town: Helena
Mt Helena Ridge Trailhead
★★★★★4.7 (25)Location: 5051 Prospector Gulch Rd, Helena, MT 59601
Nearest Town: Helena
Trail Creek Trailhead
★★★★★4.7 (23)Location: Barn Creek, Ennis, MT 59729
Nearest Town: Ennis
Dillon Town Overlook Trailhead
★★★★★4.8 (21)Location: Dillon, MT 59725
Nearest Town: Dillon
Coyote Coulee Trailhead
★★★★★4.8 (21)Location: Lost Horse Rd, Darby, MT 59829
Nearest Town: Darby
CDNST Trailhead
★★★★★4.8 (21)Location: US-12, Helena, MT 59601
Nearest Town: Helena
Sulphur Springs Trailhead
★★★★★4.2 (15)Location: Great Falls, MT 59404
Nearest Town: Great Falls
Yellowstone Shortline Trail
★★★★★4.8 (14)Location: Iris St, West Yellowstone, MT 59758
Nearest Town: West Yellowstone
Big Creek Trailhead & Picnic Area
★★★★★4.6 (14)Location: Victor, MT 59875
Nearest Town: Stevensville
Seeley Creek Trail
★★★★★4.5 (13)Location: Morrell Creek Rd, Seeley Lake, MT 59868
Nearest Town: Seeley Lake
Superior Vista Trailhead
★★★★★4.5 (11)Location: 210 River St, Superior, MT 59872
Nearest Town: Superior
Limekiln Trail
★★★★★4.9 (11)Location: 6300 Lime Kiln Rd, Lewistown, MT 59457
Nearest Town: Lewistown
Leigh Lake Trail
★★★★★5.0 (10)Location: NF-4786, Libby, MT 59923
Nearest Town: Libby
Rocker Station Trailhead
★★★★★4.9 (10)Location: 1208 Grizzly Trail, Butte, MT 59701
Nearest Town: Butte
Harrell Forest Community Trails
★★★★★4.6 (9)Location: 1017 Bigfork Stage Rd, Bigfork, MT 59911
Nearest Town: Bigfork
Flesher Pass Trailhead
★★★★★4.9 (8)Location: Flesher Pass Rd, Lincoln, MT 59639
Nearest Town: Helena
Gold Prize Creek Trailhead
★★★★★4.6 (7)Location: Pray, MT 59065
Nearest Town: Gardiner
US Forest Service Trail #119 Trailhead
★★★★★4.9 (7)Location: Big Timber, MT 59011
Nearest Town: Big Timber
Meyers Lane Parking Lot
★★★★★4.2 (6)Location: Meyers Ln, Livingston, MT 59047
Nearest Town: Livingston
Trapper Creek Trailhead
★★★★★4.8 (5)Location: Trapper Creek Rd, Darby, MT 59829
Nearest Town: Darby
Goat Mountain Trailhead
★★★★★4.4 (5)Location: Pinesdale, MT 59840
Nearest Town: Hamilton
Babcock Mountain Trail #10 Trailhead
★★★★★5.0 (4)Location: Rock Creek Rd, Clinton, MT 59825
Nearest Town: Missoula
Overlook Trailhead
★★★★★4.5 (4)Location: 6772 Hauser Dam Rd, Helena, MT 59602
Nearest Town: East Helena
Louise Lake Trailhead
★★★★★4.8 (4)Location: Sheridan, MT 59749
Nearest Town: Twin Bridges
Taylor Hills Trailhead
★★★★★5.0 (3)Location: White Sulphur Springs, MT 59645
Nearest Town: Neihart
South Fork Teton Trailhead
★★★★★5.0 (3)Location: Choteau, MT 59422
Nearest Town: Choteau
Sawtooth Lake Trailhead
★★★★★5.0 (3)Location: Elkhorn Rd, Polaris, MT 59746
Nearest Town: Dillon
Four Lakes Trailhead
★★★★★5.0 (2)Location: Thompson Falls, MT 59873
Nearest Town: Thompson Falls
Milk River Trailhead at Sullivan Park
★★★★★5.0 (2)Location: Sullivan Park Rd, Glasgow, MT 59230
Nearest Town: Glasgow
Montana Hiking Safety
- Bear spray: Carry it and know how to use it. Both grizzly and black bears are common throughout Montana.
- Ten Essentials: Always bring navigation, sun protection, insulation, illumination, first aid, fire, repair tools, nutrition, hydration, and emergency shelter.
- Weather: Mountain storms develop quickly. Start early and turn back if thunderstorms approach — lightning kills above treeline.
- Stream crossings: Snowmelt-fed streams run highest in June and July. Cross early in the day when water levels are lowest.
- Tell someone: Leave your itinerary with a friend. Cell service is nonexistent at most Montana trailheads.
- Leave No Trace: Pack out all trash, stay on marked trails, and camp on durable surfaces at least 200 feet from water.
- Permits: Glacier National Park requires vehicle reservations and backcountry permits. Check nps.gov/glac for current requirements.
Trail conditions change seasonally. Many high-elevation trails are snow-covered through June. Check local ranger districts for current conditions.