These 7 Alpine Hikes In Montana Will Turn Anyone Into A Nature Lover
By Jessica Wick|Updated on April 24, 2023(Originally published April 21, 2023)
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Jessica Wick
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Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
If you live in Montana, you can’t help but be a nature lover. Still, there’s nothing like an invigorating hike through some of our most stunning scenery to remind you of how good we have it. These seven trails feature stunning alpine meadows you’ll love and are most definitely some of the best trails in Montana. Lace-up your boots and let’s go!
If you're heading to Glacier, make sure to stretch your legs on this five-mile trail near East Glacier Park Village. The hike from the top of Logan Pass offers sweeping views of Hidden Lake, and every step is stunning. You'll find the Hidden Lake Overlook trailhead directly behind the Logan Pass Visitor Center. The hike is both easy to find and fairly simple to complete, so it's pretty popular among visitors to Glacier National Park!
Hike Hidden Lake in just three minutes in this fun short video:
2. Cinnamon Mountain Trail, Gallatin National Forest
This challenging eight-mile trek takes you up to an old fire tower on top of Cinnamon Mountain, and the views are stunning. While admittedly a bit of a trek, if you're a fairly experienced hiker and you're up for a challenge, you'll love where this trail takes you. Wind through patches of forests and grassy meadows as you ascend the mountain.
Climb higher and you'll be treated to views of Big Sky, the Spanish Peaks, the Lee Metcalf Wilderness Area, and Gallatin Canyon. It's a jaw-dropping vista! The trailhead for the Cinnamon Mountain Trail is located near Big Sky.
Located near Bozeman, Sypes Canyon Trail is a six-mile path that features a river and plenty of peaceful meadows, and it is totally bucket-list worthy. For peak wildflowers viewing, go in July.
This is a nice, easy 2.5-mile hike you'll find near the small community of Polebridge. In addition to the meadows full of wildflowers, you just might spot some wildflowers on the Hidden Meadow Trail. One of the best parts about this trail is that the entire length is open and exposed and the views will take your breath away! It is one of the best hikes in Montana.
5. Blodgett Canyon Trail, Bitterroot National Forest
The Blodgett Canyon Trail has a little bit of everything: cascading creeks, a tranquil waterfall, and peaceful meadows that fill with wildflowers every summer. It's a Montana hike we think everyone should take at least one!
If you want to fall in love with Montana all over again, simply hike Beehive Basin Trail No. 40. This seven-mile hike is incredibly scenic, and while it's challenging at times, it's well worth making the effort. It's kind of the picture-perfect day hike in the Treasure State!
7. Upper Two Medicine Trail, Glacier National Park
At 11 miles in length, this is a trail you'll want to save an entire day to enjoy. The trailhead for the Upper Two Medicine Trail is located near East Glacier Park Village, and it's even more beautiful in person. This is definitely one of the best trails in Glacier National Park!
No matter what time of year it is, it’s always a good time to explore the best trails in Montana – and the above alpine trail are certainly some of the best in the state! And if you’re a bit short on time or you’d like to start off slowly, these amazing hikes in Montana are all under five miles long and totally worth tackling.
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Best Trails in Montana
Sarah M.|March 30, 2022
What are the best hikes in Montana?
There's a multitude of riches when it comes to the nature scene in Montana. There are also so many beautiful trails to tackle that it can be overwhelming when trying to narrow it down to just a few. That's why we're here! We put together this list of five of the absolute best, most bucket-list-worthy hikes in Montana. Among those on the list, the Grinnell Lake Trail in Glacier National Park is sure to drop your jaw. Not only is this one of the most popular trails in Glacier National Park, but it's also one of the most scenic hikes as well. Read more about the path in this article.
Another hike we like to direct folks to in Montana is the Holland Lake and Falls Trail over in Flathead National Forest. This stunning trail is an easy and pleasant 3.3-mile trek located near Condon that's really perfect for all ages and skill levels. Due to its accessibility and sheer beauty, it's pretty popular, so go early in the morning if you want to beat the crowds!
