Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Grant, Montana

Bannock Pass and Bannack Ghost Town

NOTE spelling differences when doing your research: Bannock with an O for route information, Bannack with an A for state park, ghost town, and campground information.Nestled in the Beaverhead Mountains, part of the Bitterroot Range…
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Total Miles
46.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Big Hole - Road 181

This easy track is bookended by the Shoshone Ridge Interpretive Site to the south, and Highway 278 near Jackson MT to the north - it partially follows both the Big Hole River and the Nez…
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Total Miles
39.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Sp / Fa

Canyon Creek - Quartz Hill

This route will take you through Vipond Park, a subalpine meadow. The southern approach to the meadow is a very steep single-lane road with limited turnouts, do not bring a trailer on this side. This…
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Total Miles
22.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Basinger Canyon

This route takes you from the bottom of the Lost River Valley up around an additional thousand feet to the base of Bell Mountain. The canyon could be named white rock canyon as the rock…
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Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Into The Salmon Forest

Beautiful and scenic, this easy dirt road winds its way up into the Salmon National Forest. Once you begin gaining elevation, the road is generously one vehicle wide with plenty of pull-out places to pass.…
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Total Miles
6.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

4th of July Trail

This is a 2 lane, maintained forest service road that leads to the long-standing fire tower for the Northfork, ID area with a 360-degree view of the surrounding mountain ranges. The knowledgeable and friendly watchman…
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Total Miles
8.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Red Rock Lakes

Easy, yet extremely remote route through the historic Centennial Valley. Highlights include the Red Rock Lakes Wildlife Refuge with a chance to view many important waterfowl species, including the trumpeter swan, which was once near…
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Total Miles
53.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Deer Creek Dugouts

This is a neat and quick little out and back trail across the Salmon River for those looking for some quirky Idaho History. Two of "Dugout Dick's" Cave Cabins have been preserved with a parking…
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Total Miles
0.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Lake Mountain

The road to Lake Mountain in Idaho is well traveled and in good condition. It can be accessed by any 4WD vehicle. It starts on Williams Creek Road, a few miles south of Salmon, ID.…
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Total Miles
15.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Centennial Divide

This easy and scenic route connects Montana's Centennial Valley and Ruby River Reservoir. Along its path, you'll pass a well-known bison ranch, trace portions of the Ruby River, and spend most of your trip flanked…
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Total Miles
54.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su

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

Bitterroot-Big Hole

This alternate route takes you to Gibbons Pass bypassing Lost Trail Pass. The section north of Gibbons Pass is a steep one-lane road with limited areas to pass and you should be prepared to back…
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Total Miles
16.5
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

Eureka Basin Road (FS 347)

This road is actually a connector between Gravelly Range Road and Centennial Divide Road. Like Gravelly, this road has some spectacular views, and on the southern end, you will drop off the upper mesa at…
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Total Miles
5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Moose Lake Road

Moose Lake Road travels along the Middle Fork of Rock Creek and ends at a trailhead that provides access to the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness. Remains of the Old Dominion Mine are visible at the southern…
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Total Miles
14.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Warm Springs Creek Road (FA 163) w/Cow Camp Road (FS1234)

Warm Springs Creek Road takes you from the Gravelly Range ridge line to Continental Divide/Upper Ruby Road. Assuming you start on the upper ridge along Gravelly Range Road, you go down the road looking back…
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Total Miles
10.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su

Continental Divide/Upper Ruby Road (FS100) (Parital)

This road is a main traffic corridor between the N Valley Road, near the southern MT border and Alder, MT. There are numerous homes and ranch buildings in the area with additional traffic. This input…
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Total Miles
3.9
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Pass Creek

Pass Creek is a nice and easy drive located very close to Mackay, Idaho. The route was very popular when the Rally in the Pines was located in Mackay. The area offers unique views and…
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Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Ye

Johnson Peak Trailhead

This trail is a well-maintained grated dirt trail up to the Johnson Peak Trailhead and McCart Lookout Tower. The trail ends at a large pullout for parking or dispersed camping. There are stock ties, and…
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Total Miles
4.9
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Little East Fork

Your average Civic or Prius could easily make it all the way to the end. The first third of the trail runs through private properties with many cabins. Some of them look pretty old. Just…
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Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

McCart Tower to Swift Creek the Cutover

This run is an excellent easy cutover trail that links the Johnson Peak Trailhead and McCart Lookout Tower Trail to the Swift Creek Hiking Trailhead. It's a twisty windy dirt trail along the ridge with…
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Total Miles
5.8
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

East Fork Reservoir

This is a scenic route from Georgetown Lake to the East Fork Reservoir. The route starts on Old Lake Road along the west side of Georgetown Lake. After turning on Georgetown Lake Road you will…
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Total Miles
15.4
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Swift Creek Trailhead

This is a well-maintained dirt trail that almost any 2WD passenger car could make. The trail runs along a river, then Forks away, and continues along a smaller creek. There is a large dispersed campsite…
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Total Miles
2.6
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Moose Creek & Trail 40

This trail is generally easy and wide enough to pass oncoming traffic. The trail seems to follow the path of the creek. However, there are not a lot of places to access it or see…
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Total Miles
3.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Martin Creek to Chain of Lakes Trail

This is a lovely wide, well-maintained dirt trail with room for two cars to pass the whole way easily. A few more minor ruts and potholes closer to the trail's end. The trail runs up…
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Total Miles
4.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Meadow Creek

The route takes you from the East Fork Reservoir to Moose Lake Road. It travels through the gorgeous Lodge Pole Forest and also has many scenic meadows. The route travels near Dexter and Meadow Creek.…
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Total Miles
15.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Teepee Point Vehicle Access

Nice, well-maintained dirt trail. It is by no means super narrow however it is mostly one vehicle width most of the way with pullouts. It is a Cliffside Trail and has some pretty decent drop-offs.…
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Total Miles
4.5
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Fish Creek Lake Road (Partial)

This is an exciting adventure with some great views, trail obstacles, and two lakes that had fish rising to get the numerous bugs, due to the approaching thunderstorm when we were there. Be aware, this…
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Total Miles
3.3
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Fish Creek Ridge Road (FS 9626)

If you're not careful, you will drive past this trail from either end. The only thing marking a trail on the Eureka Basin end is a very old FS sign that informs you that this…
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Total Miles
3.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su

Point of Jefferson River Loop

This mostly dirt loop trail takes you from the downtown of Whitehall into the countryside and drives along the Jefferson River. There are several spots along the trail that have excellent views of the river…
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Total Miles
16.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp