Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Gallatin Gateway, Montana

Wilson Creek Divide Road

This is a very nice and easy forest service road with several decent-sized boulders sticking up in the road. Once you reach the peak and start down the other side, it narrows to a tight,…
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Total Miles
26.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Little Bear Road Offshoot

Essentially a rough gravel road, this is a curvy and pot-hole-filled mountain road that forks off of Wilson Creek Divide Road. You'll likely want to air down your tires so as to not rattle your…
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Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Storm Castle to Line Creek Rd

Heading from North to South this trail narrows and grows slightly more challenging as you gain elevation. Near the top the track appears to be sensitive to rain and snowmelt and likely becomes quite muddy…
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Total Miles
12
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Moser Views

This trail is a great trail for beginners, involving two steep, off-camber hills at the beginning and middle, and plenty of chunky gravel and loose soil between. At the trail's peak is a phenomenal view…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Langohr Offshoot

A rough, but maintained forest service trail off of the main Langohr Road in Hyalite Canyon. There are various dispersed camping spots off of this trail, as well as several beautiful viewpoints to see the…
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Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Moose Creek to Portal Creek Rd

Heading south on 191, take a left onto Moose Creek Road; this trail starts off fairly gentle with plenty of camping areas to make basecamp. Beautiful aspens, golden late September, line the first stretch of…
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Total Miles
13
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Olsen Creek

This is a nice drive through the Bridger range that most vehicles can do. The trail forks to Skunk Creek, which has some deep puddles, but nothing a stock truck or SUV wouldn't be able…
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Total Miles
19.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Pine Creek

This is a really pretty drive to some nice views and campsites. Nothing technical to worry about, a car could make it through with some determination. There is a small water crossing and some ruts,…
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Total Miles
4.4
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Sixmile Creek Road

Sixmile Creed Road is a very scenic out and back gravel road that becomes less maintained the further back you discover. The entrance can be found off Dailey Lake Road. From the entrance it is…
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Total Miles
4
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Potosi Willow Creek

This is an easy grated out and back dirt road begins through some open range before turning up into the mountains. Watch for range cattle on the road early in the trail. Once the trail…
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Total Miles
13.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
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

Axolotl Lakes Road

Axolotl Lakes Road is like a fine sampling of the beauty Montana has to offer. It begins in one of the state's charming towns, Virginia City, complete with weathered wooden buildings and small restaurants and…
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Total Miles
11.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Johnny Ridge Road - FS324

This trail offers either an opportunity to leave the ridge on Gravelly Range Road and descend to a trailhead at McAtee Bridge near State Highway 287 or to climb up to Gravelly Range Road. This…
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Total Miles
14.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Beaver Creek Gallatin Forest

This is a lovely little hidden gem of a trail just outside West Yellowstone in the mountains. Beaver Creek runs right along a good portion of the beginning of this trail, and there are lots…
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Total Miles
4.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Wicked Creek Loop

Open Dates: 7/16-9/14. Wicked Creek Loop is in the Absaroka Range and part of the Custer Gallatin National Forest on the Eastern side of the Paradise Valley, South of Livingston, Montana. Beginning at Mill Creek…
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Total Miles
16.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

Granite Lake

Fairly easy trail with some great views. Trail got narrow in some spots from freshly cut trees. Some quick switchbacks could be challenging in a longer wheelbase. Not a lot of traffic on the trail…
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Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su

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

Red Canyon

This is a pretty out-and-back trail up through red canyon that ends at the hiking trail for Red Canyon Creek. The beginning of the trail is through private property, and the trail surface is well-maintained…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Cliff Lake Trail

This is a very short trail to Cliff Lake at the top of the McKelvey Lake Trail and accessed from Mine Lake. Although short, the lake is absolutely worth seeing and the fishing is great.…
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Total Miles
0.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Whits Lake Trail

This is a beautiful dirt and gravel trail that heads up to a couple of hiking trailheads. There are two designated dispersed campsites on the way up. One had an Airstream parked at it when…
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Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Hegben Lake Trail

This wide, well-maintained gravel and dirt trail runs along Hegben Lake. Some sections of the trail have a bit of bumpy washboard. Most lake access is from established campgrounds and designated dispersed camping areas. Most…
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Total Miles
8.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Standard Creek Rd w/Wolverine Basin

Standard Creek Road (FS237) is a beautiful climb from the Madison River Basin up into the Gravelly Range. The views are spectacular and many side trails exist for exploring. The views often show three to…
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Total Miles
22.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Eagle Nest River Access

This is a nice out-and-back dirt and gravel trail to the Eagle Nest day-use area with access to the Madison River. There is also a day-use river access spot at the beginning of the trail…
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Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Rainbow Point

This easy, wide, well-maintained dirt trail connects Rainbow Point and the Rainbow Point campground to Hegben Lake and the first-day use areas on the lake. It's a nice trail through the trees with some washboard…
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Total Miles
2.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

West Fork Madison (FS 209)

This trail follows the West Fork of the Madison River, which is a beautiful stream that highlights the beauty of the valley you will be following. This is an exceptionally beautiful area and we were…
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Total Miles
6.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

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

Cougar C Trail

This is a nice connection trail between Highway 191 and the Whisky Bay trail. It is a broad, well-maintained dirt and gravel trail primarily through tall trees. It's longer but much smoother than the whisky…
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Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Cougar Cr Park Boundary

If you want to experience a little Yellowstone but are not planning on going to the park, this trail has a few hidden gems. It is a day-use area and runs right along the Yellowstone…
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Total Miles
2.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Barton Gulch

The Barton Gulch trail is a scenic drive that runs across the northern reaches of the Gravelly Range in Montana. Explore its winding two-tracks, and you'll witness abandoned cabins nestled by babbling brooks, open meadows…
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Total Miles
17.9
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Barton Gulch and Offshoots

Beautiful trail with awesome views. Easy trail that gets narrow in spots and had some low hanging fallen trees that could be an issue if you don't want scratches in your paint. Stock 4x4s won't…
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Total Miles
24
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su