Are you ready for another beautiful hiking season in Montana? While the vast majority of our state has plenty of trails with stunning views, nothing can ever quite compare to the rugged and diverse beauty of the Bitterroot Valley. And if you’ve ever hiked the Saint Mary Peak Trail, you already know exactly how enchanting it is. This 5.9-mile (out and back) trail is a must-see for all Montana hikers.

Saint Mary Peak is located near Stevensville.
Donnie Wilson / alltrails.com
To reach it, you'll drive about 3 miles south of the Stevensville junction on U.S. Highway 93, then turn west onto Indian Prairie Loop. Continue until you see St. Mary's Road, take a right, and continue until the road ends and the trailhead begins (you will see signs).
Both the trailhead and the trail are well-marked, and there's even a parking area.
Tonya Henderson / alltrails.com
Of course, parking isn't as easy to come by during the peak season, so you'll want to get an early start if you wait until summer.
You'll then hike about three miles uphill -- but it's not as daunting as it sounds.
Caryle Guzman / alltrails.com
The trail is ranked as moderate, and the incline, while noticeable, isn't so steep that a beginner can't attempt it.

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About two miles in, you'll officially enter the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.
Julie Hamilton / alltrails.com
That's when the true sweeping views of the mountains and valley begin to appear.
You'll also pass a bright white historic lookout tower, which stands tall on the top of the summit.
MontanaJIm / TripAdvisor
This is actually a replacement tower for the original one, which was lost to a particularly brutal windstorm in 1952.
On a nice, clear day, you'll enjoy views of the Bitterroot and Beaverhead mountains to the south, the Clearwater range to the west, and the Mission, Swan, Rattlesnake and Lewis and Clark ranges to the north.
jimichongaJC / TripAdvisor
You can also usually spot the Sapphire Mountains and the Anaconda range from the top as well.
This picturesque trail is open all year, although poor weather will definitely deter you (and you'd need snowshoes during the winter months). It's best avoided before spring.
Jenny Kirschner / alltrails.com
But there's something special about hiking this trail at the beginning of the summer, when you can take in the changing of the seasons in the Bitterroot Valley from the top of the summer.

Check out the Saint Mary Peak Trail this year. It just might become your new favorite hike.

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St Mary Peak, Montana 59870, USA