Hiking trails in Montana

Hiking trails in Montana span every kind of public land the state has to offer — state parks, national forests, recreation areas, county preserves, and a few NPS units. Trail Compass currently lists 10 trails across 1 parks in Montana, organised by difficulty so you can land on the right route in a few clicks.

Browse by difficulty using the four filter cards directly below, or scroll to the full state trail table. Easy and moderate routes dominate near the population centers; hard and expert routes cluster in the higher, more remote corners of the Rocky Mountain corridor.

Best hiking season across Montana is generally late June through September; high passes hold snow into July and afternoon thunderstorms build quickly above 11,000 ft. Shorter walks at lower elevations stay accessible longer than alpine routes — if you are hiking in a shoulder month, lean toward state-park trails near urban centers and save the high country for peak season.

Expect to share the trail with mule deer, elk herds in the meadows at dawn and dusk, marmots and pikas above treeline, and black bears in the lower drainages. Carry bear spray where signage advises it, store food properly, and remember that the wildlife was here first.

Pick a difficulty tier from the filter cards below, or jump straight to a specific park.