Trail of the Week

Munson Creek is a wonderful shoulder season hike. It's accessible right from Highway 200 near Plains and Thompson Falls, so you don't have to worry about driving long muddy roads early in the year. If there's still snow, it's a nice ski or snowshoe. If it's thawing out, you can look for loads of early season wildflowers in the understory. Or, add this to your summer list for a cool dip in the shad...

Northeast of Malta, Rock Creek Canyon is a hidden gem an the Hi-Line. Go early in the year for spring birds, green prairie grasses, and colorful canyons.

The Big Snowy Mountains, one of Montana's unique Island Ranges, are full of surprises. Enjoy this hike up Timber Creek into the Big Snowy Wilderness Study Area. Big Snowies photo by Dexter Hale

Already dreaming of spring? Here's one to add to the calendar. This is a fantastic early season hike, and is accessible as soon as the snow begins to thaw. You can look forward to vibrant early season wildflower displays in April and May.

What?!? Ringing Rocks?!? Yes, it's true. This week's trail is a truly unique trail right near Butte. If you don't believe it, go see - and listen - for yourself.

Here's a gem near Red Lodge, a fabulous winter getaway. This little taste of the Beartooths will have you coming back for more.

Right next to Billings, the Four Dances Natural Area is a beautiful cliffside retreat with views over the Yellowstone River. It makes for a great destination any time of year.

If you haven't been to Devil's Glen, this magical little canyon makes for a great winter trip. It's an easy snowshoe or XC ski into the canyon, where the red rocks and iridescent waters light up in contrast to the light snow.

This adventure is perfect for these darkest, quietest days of the year. Ross Creek Cedars are in the southern Cabinet Mountains on the Kootenai National Forest. It's a short family stroll in summer, or go in winter and add a few miles for a quiet XC ski or snowshoe into these majestic, towering cedars.

North of Glasgow, you have the chance to stroll through 60,000 acres grasslands and badlands in Bitter Creek Wilderness Study Area. It's a prairie wonderland that's sure to delight, even in quiet winter.

Here's a trail to add to your summer "to hike" list. It brings you to a beautiful lake in the Crazy Mountains, one of Montana's most stunning mountain ranges.

The Continental Divide Trail runs 3,100 miles from Mexico to Canada, with nearly 1/3 of that distance in Montana. Even in winter, you can access the CDT where Highway 200 crosses Rogers Pass, just east of Lincoln.

It's not every day you find a loop trail with such great scenery. This hike takes you into the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, one of the first Wilderness areas created back in 1964. It's often accessible in the fall, but be sure to call the local ranger district to check on roads before you go - the roads can get snowed in right now.

The colorful buttes and natural bridges of the Terry Badlands Wilderness Study Area are just off I-94 east of Billings. It's a bit of a bumpy ride to get there, but the hike is stunning and well worth the trip. It's especially beautiful in fall and spring.

Cow Creek Wilderness Study Area in the Upper Missouri River Breaks National Monument is a perfect place to wander through badlands, coulees, and prairie.

4 miles long with 800 feet of elevation gain, the hike to Upper Miner Lake is a family-friendly outing in the West Big Hole, accessible from Butte, Dillon, and even Missoula.

On the west side of the Madison Range outside Ennis, the meadows of Cowboy Heaven offers big views of the Madison Valley without gaining a ton of elevation.

The Bear-Baree Loop heads into the wild Cabinet Mountains in northwest Montana through old-growth forest and past shimmering lakes.

The towering limestone walls of Trout Creek Canyon make this family-friendly hike outside of Helena a must.

Head up to far northwest Montana for a glimpse of Bluebird Lake, a little-known gem in the Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area.

The Sheep Lake Trail is within sight of Yellowstone, but you'll probably have it all to yourself.

The hike to Nevada Mountain outside Lincoln takes you right down the mighty spine of North America: the Continental Divide.

If you're feeling up for a tough but rewarding hike, tackle the rugged Star Peak in the Scotchman Peaks proposed wilderness near Libby for great views and lots of huckleberries.

Follow this path into the ramparts of aptly-named Palisade Mountain, a rocky fortress inside the Stony Mountain Roadless Area.

From the summit of Warrior Mountain, you'll be looking down on wild Bunker Creek and across into the Bob Marshall Wilderness. And, with any luck, you'll be surrounded by wildflowers the entire way.