Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Charlos Heights, Montana
Lost Horse Ridgeline Lower
Beautiful ridgeline trail running up along the side of the mountain. This is a well-maintained dirt and gravel road that is wide enough in most places for two vehicles to pass. There are a few… Learn more about Lost Horse Ridgeline Lower
Total Miles
7.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Lost Horse Creek Trail
This is a beautiful trail that leads from US 93 up to Twin Lakes. The trail follows Lost Horse Creek for much of the drive and offers excellent camping opportunities at spots spaced out along… Learn more about Lost Horse Creek Trail
Total Miles
20.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Moose Creek/Old Mine
This can be used as an out and back trail ending at a nice little campsite with a view, or this trail can be connected up to Hays Creek Moose Creek Trail and Lost Horse… Learn more about Moose Creek/Old Mine
Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Como Crest
Short, quick, and scenic trail in the Bitterroot mountains that starts/ends at Lake Como. The dirt road is maintained in the summer months but not likely in the winter months. A gate at the beginning… Learn more about Como Crest
Total Miles
14.1
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Roaring Lion
This is a short out-and-back dirt trail up one of the valleys with stunning panoramic views. There was a fire through the valley at some point that burned all the trees opening up what can… Learn more about Roaring Lion
Total Miles
1.6
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Hays Creek Moose Creek
This is a nice ridgeline connection trail that when linked up with Moose Creek/Old Mine Trail and Lost Horse Ridgeline creates a full loop. The beginning of Lost Horse Observation Point is at one end… Learn more about Hays Creek Moose Creek
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Lost Horse Observation Point
This is a truly stunning view out over the mountains and valley. It is one of the few in this area that can be driven to, most of the best viewpoints in this area are… Learn more about Lost Horse Observation Point
Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp
Up and Up
This route starts as an easy dirt trail, accessible to 2WD and low clearance vehicles, with sweeping views over Lake Como. The higher the elevation, the better it gets. About halfway up, the trail turns… Learn more about Up and Up
Total Miles
11
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Tin Cup Dispersed
This is a shorter, very rutted dirt trail running along Tin Cup Creek with lots of dispersed camping access. Some sites are close to the stream with water access; some are just nestled in the… Learn more about Tin Cup Dispersed
Total Miles
0.8
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Blodgett Canyon Overlook
Well maintained wide dirt road leading to several very popular hiking trails.Blodgett Overlook 1.4 mile hiking trail and Canyon Lake is 5 miles.There is a nice parking area for 10-15 cars at the end of… Learn more about Blodgett Canyon Overlook
Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp
Tin Cup Creek
This trail is an easy, grated gravel and dirt run. You wouldn't ever think this neat area was here. The turn for the trail is right in the cute town of Darby. It begins running… Learn more about Tin Cup Creek
Total Miles
2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Blodgett Hiking Trail and Campground
This is a short out and back trail with stunning views of the rock formations up the canyon. The middle portion of the trail is through private land. At the end of the trail is… Learn more about Blodgett Hiking Trail and Campground
Total Miles
1.5
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
The Magruder Corridor
This scenic trail is a must see. It traverses from Idaho to Montana along an historic route. Most of the main trail is graded forest road with some paved sections. It's very remote with no… Learn more about The Magruder Corridor
Total Miles
139.3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su
Mill Creek Trailhead
A very short out and back it's less than a mile Easily .8, most of it is through a neighborhood with private homes. The signage does ask that you stay on the main road. At… Learn more about Mill Creek Trailhead
Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Gird Point Lookout
This is a short gravel trail that leads up to the Gird Point fire tower. The trail is gravel, and easily navigated by most vehicles. It also has several offshoots leading to hiking and other… Learn more about Gird Point Lookout
Total Miles
14.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Cow Creek Road and Shiefman Hiking Trail
Generally, this is an easy dirt road that consists of multiple switchbacks and some decent elevation climbs. It begins in a neighborhood where it is asked to please drive slowly, and after, it turns into… Learn more about Cow Creek Road and Shiefman Hiking Trail
Total Miles
5.3
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Trapper Trailhead Side Trail
A narrow and rocky offshoot. A muddy section near the beginning could be impassable when wet. Lots of ruts and rocks with narrow sections could cause tire damage. The trail doesn't really go anywhere; it… Learn more about Trapper Trailhead Side Trail
Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Trapper Creek Trailhead
An easy narrow trail that leads to the Trapper Creek Trailhead. There is lots of fishing access along the way and many dispersed campsites. Lots of them are tucked nicely off the main trail. There… Learn more about Trapper Creek Trailhead
Total Miles
3
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Lower Pierce Creek
This is an easy road into the mountains with many offshoots. The lower section ends at a locked gate for private property. The middle section is seasonally closed. There were few dispersed spots to camp… Learn more about Lower Pierce Creek
Total Miles
2.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Lower Willow St Clair
Easy little forest road that begins in a housing area and winds through private property until you reach the forest. There's a small creek alongside the road and a few pullouts. Saw one dispersed camping… Learn more about Lower Willow St Clair
Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Lloyd Scenic Loop
A scenic loop drive along the hillside through a nicely thinned forest. Plenty of hiking trails crisscross the hillside, and there were two herds of Elk off in the trees. The easy graded trail has… Learn more about Lloyd Scenic Loop
Total Miles
5.6
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Bear Creek Overlook 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… Learn more about Bear Creek Overlook Trail
Total Miles
5.5
Tech Rating
1
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Upper Willow Saint Clair
An easy mostly graded trail into the hills. Outstanding Views of the Bitterroot valley below. There is intermittent cell service. Saw a herd of deer on the trail. The last few miles become more narrow… Learn more about Upper Willow Saint Clair
Total Miles
11.9
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Gash Creek
Most of the trail up is a smooth easy graded road and would be no issue for any vehicle but it has been trimmed on either side of the road so it would be fine… Learn more about Gash Creek
Total Miles
6.7
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
St Clair
The trail starts easy and flat. Be on the lookout for downed trees and rock slides or boulders in the trail. It gets more difficult the further back you go. Mud holes and springs run… Learn more about St Clair
Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
3
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Gash Sweathouse Face Trail
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… Learn more about Gash Sweathouse Face Trail
Total Miles
2.4
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa
Northern Skalkaho -Rye
This is the northern access section from the pavement of Skalkaho Highway back and up into the mountains. There is a sizeable dispersed camping area right at the beginning near the pavement with large level… Learn more about Northern Skalkaho -Rye
Total Miles
9.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Gilbert No Creek
This trail starts with loose gravel and then transitions to some rutted hard pack. Gilbert creek does run along the bottom, at least to the first big turn with a grassy open camping spot. Then… Learn more about Gilbert No Creek
Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp
Willow Mountain to Burnt Fork Lake Hiking trail
Easy graded narrow trail. Lots of pullouts to pass other drivers; some of the corners are steeper with looser gravel. Be alert for people collecting firewood and their trucks parked right in the road as… Learn more about Willow Mountain to Burnt Fork Lake Hiking trail
Total Miles
19.1
Tech Rating
2
Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa
Smiths Grassy Offshoot
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… Learn more about Smiths Grassy Offshoot