Beginner Off-Road Trails Near Hebgen Lake Estates, Montana

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

Whisky Bay Trail

Are you looking for day-use access to Whisky Bay? This is the main trail across Whisky Bay with loops and fingers off of it with lots of day-use spots along the bay. The trail is…
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Total Miles
4.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

Whisky Bay Day Use 2

There are two-day use loops off the Whisky Bay trail. This day-use trail is close to the Horse Butte trail and rainbow point; it's slightly shorter than the other day-use area and runs higher above…
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Total Miles
1.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Sp / Su

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

Madison Arm

This broad, well-maintained dirt and gravel trail runs along Hegben Lake. It can be accessed from Highway 191 and Highway 20 just outside the town of West Yellowstone. The Madison Arm Resort Camp and Marina…
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Total Miles
11
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

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

Stoddard Point

This is an easy out-and-back offshoot trail through some seasonal forest service cabins off the main Madison Arm Trail. Follow the onX track carefully and obey all signs, there are lots of dirt roads that…
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Total Miles
1.3
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Sp / Su

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

Whisky Bay Day Use 1

There are two day use loops off the Whisky Bay trail; this day use trail is close to highway 191, it's longer than the other day use areas with more pull-offs, and it has some…
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Total Miles
1.4
Tech Rating
3 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

Buttermilk Creek Trail

Two track with great tree cover. Some wet sections. The trail is rutted and has several loose rock sections. The trailhead is located right after you enter the West Yellowstone valley. It has several open…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Garner Canyon

This is a short, fun adventure through a small mountain meadow and tree-lined trails. This is a great place to take a family hike, enjoy a peaceful picnic lunch and take in the beauty of…
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Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / 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

Meadow Creek Road

This local road travels along the east side of the large, flat meadow just north of Robin's Roost on Hwy 20. There is a small lodge/restaurant that is a favorite hang-out for snowmobilers in the…
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Total Miles
7.5
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Two Tops Canyon

This Forest Service Road traverses a canyon around the base of the locally famous Two Tops Mountain. Snowmobilers and 50" SxSs can go to the top, but larger machines are restricted from the area. This…
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Total Miles
7.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Red Rock Pass Island Park

Red Rock Pass is a pleasant, very easy gravel road along Henry's Lake and the Centennial Mountains in Island Park. It offers great views throughout and good chances to see wildlife.
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Total Miles
11
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
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

Continental Divide Trail (FS 20056)

This trail is the portal to several wonderful adventures in this area. There are trailheads with parking areas for a limited number of vehicles with trailers on either end. Red Rock Road has more parking…
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Total Miles
11.5
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Sawtell Peak

Sawtell Peak Road is a great destination for anyone that enjoys sweeping views. It takes you more than 9,800 feet to great 360-degree views of 3 different states. This makes a perfect unique stop to…
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Total Miles
9.2
Tech Rating
3 Easy
Best Time
Year-round

Buffalo River via Fish Creek

This is a fun Forest Service Road that will take you up Fish Creek Road where you will turn onto Chick Creek Road up to almost 8,000 feet with spectacular views of the area to…
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Total Miles
19.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Fish - Chick Creek Roads

This is a fun ride on Forest Service roads that travels through some very picturesque woods. Along the path there are streams, meadows and views but watch out for the wildlife. It is not uncommon…
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Total Miles
4.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Coffee Pot

This is a wide dirt and gravel trail through very tall trees. The trail is grated and well maintained up to the Coffee Pot Campground. There is no day use or river access at the…
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Total Miles
2.7
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Sp / Su / Fa

Flat Rock of Potholes

This is a wide dusty gravel trail through tall trees with no good views. There are two extensive dispersed campsites with camping areas on either end of the trail. About 20-30 trailer campers were packed…
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Total Miles
2.1
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa / Sp

Antelope Basin (FS 230)

If toured at the correct time of the year, this is an exceptionally beautiful area with tall grasses and fields of wildflowers. In addition, there are many unique and spectacular rock formations. One that struck…
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Total Miles
6.6
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Lone Tree Pass-Deer Mountain Road

This section of trail is a fun exploration of some rocky terrain that climbs to almost 8,400 feet over a pass, giving you views of Elk Lake and the wildlife refuge area to the west.…
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Total Miles
5.3
Tech Rating
2 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Butterfly Loop

This is the dirt trail portion of Butterfly Loop. It could be run from the highway towards the river ending at the Buttermilk Campground, with river access and a boat launch. Or this trail can…
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Total Miles
3.2
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp

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

Jackknife - Cliff Lake Bench (FS 9640/41)

We were hoping to see Cliff or Wade Lake when we went down this trail, but we did not. But there were some great views as we moved along this bench. The grass was deep,…
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Total Miles
7.7
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Su / Fa

Box Canyon Trailhead

This dirt trail runs through private seasonal cabins, so it's slow going for dust control. The trail is well maintained until reaching the furthest out point where it turns off for a hiking trail and…
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Total Miles
1.8
Tech Rating
1 Easy
Best Time
Fa / Su / Sp