Montana State Parks administers this federal grants program to support our trails systems in Montana.

This grant funding is available to: federal, state, and county agencies, sovereign Indian nations, private associations and clubs.

Examples of eligible projects include: urban trail development near homes and work places, basic front and backcountry trail maintenance, restoration of areas damaged by trail use, development of trailside facilities, and educational and safety projects related to trails.

Learn more >>

Hiking is a great way to experience all the sights, sounds, and smells of the outdoors. Take a few precautions so you and your family can thoroughly enjoy the adventure.

• Planning your trip—Plan your trip with a good topographical map or guide book. Know the terrain, elevation changes, and any crossroads you will encounter. Carry a current trail map with you and know how to read it.
• Hike with a companion—Remember there is safety in numbers. Group hikes are a great way to protect yourself from hiking dangers and they are more fun. It's safest to hike with at least one companion. If you plan to hike into a remote area, have a minimum of four people in your group. If someone is hurt, someone else can stay with the person who’s hurt while two others go for help.
• Let someone back at camp or at home know where you are going and when you plan on returning—Leave a copy of your itinerary with a family member or friend. Include details like the make, year, and license plate of your car and when you plan to return. Also include emergency contact information for the ranger station or other agency that might be called on by a friend or family member to check on your welfare or reach you in case of an emergency. Know in advance the location of the nearest telephone, park office, or ranger station in case an emergency does occur on the trip.
• Footwear—Wear properly fitting shoes with good ankle support. Slick leaves on trails have been known to cause fractured ankles. Never try to break in new shoes on a long hike. Take along extra socks (not cotton) to avoid blisters.
• Walking sticks—Walking sticks provide added support and leverage, as well as an advance feel of terrain ahead. Everyone has their own preference for walking sticks. Some people hike with one; some people hike with two. Figure out what feels right for you.
• Compass—Take along a good compass and know which direction you should be heading.
• Clothing —Always wear appropriate clothing for trail and weather conditions. In changing weather conditions, dress in lightweight layers.
• Wildlife —Be aware of possible encounters with wild animals and treat any encounters with extreme caution.
• Emergency signaling devices—Pack emergency signaling devices and find out the location of the nearest ranger station or park office in case of an emergency. Be prepared to send distress signals (with a flashlight or using the sun’s rays with a shiny object such as a small mirror).
• Drinking water—Take plenty of drinking water—a minimum of two quarts per person per day. Leave stream, river, and lake water for the park wildlife. Although it looks clean and refreshing, mountain stream water can make you ill. Water is heavy to carry, but thirst on the trail is a hazard. Take a tip from athletes: before your hike, drink some water so you’re well hydrated and energized. Never drink your total supply between refills. All water from the backcountry should be treated either by filtering or boiling. Expect backcountry water sources to be unavailable and have a contingency plan in that event.
• Stay on trails—Cutting across switchbacks erodes the hillside and eventually destroys the trail. Plus, walking off-trail increases your chance of suffering an injury or getting lost.
• Watch your footing—Think about your footing while traveling near cliffs. Trees and bushes can’t always be trusted to hold you. Stay on developed trails or dry, solid rock areas with good footing. Unless you are absolutely certain of its thickness, it’s best not to walk across ice.
• Hiking with dogs—If pets are allowed where you will be hiking, be sure to keep pets on leashes in restricted areas. Bring water for your pets and make sure they have nametags. Watch for injuries to your dog’s footpads in rocky areas, on ice, or in extremely hot terrain.

Discover the rewards of responsible outdoor recreation!

Do all you can to help preserve the beauty and inspiring attributes of our lands and waters for yourself and future generations.

Travel and recreate with minimum impact.

• Stay on legally designated trails.
• Don't create new routes or expand existing trails.
• Travel only in areas that are open to your type of recreation.
• Cross streams only on bridges or at fords where trails intersect streams.
• Avoid marshy areas and wet meadows.
• Don't cut switchbacks.
• Pack out what you packed in.
• Properly dispose of waste.
• Minimize the use of fire.

Be considerate of other users.

• Hikers should yield to horseback riders.
• Bicycle riders should yield to horseback riders and hikers.
• ATV and off-highway motorcycle riders should yield to hikers, bicyclers and horseback riders.
• Give horseback riders the right-of-way. If possible, step off the trail on the downhill side and talk calmly to the rider.
• Snowmobilers should yield to cross-country skiers and dog mushers.
• Comply with signs.

Respect wildlife.

• Keep your distance.
• Be knowledgeable of wildlife behavior.
• Know how to act in a chance encounter.

Educate yourself, plan and prepare before you go.

• Know local laws and regulations.
• Obtain a trail map and know trails and areas that are open for your type of recreation; be aware of the other types of trail users you might encounter on the trail.
• Always obtain permission to cross private land. Leave gates as you found them unless posted otherwise.
• Have equipment to make your trip safe, and know how to use it.
• Carry water and keep yourself hydrated.
• Allow for future use of the outdoors - Leave it better than you found it!

Certain recreational activities on public land in Montana require a permit. The requirements vary, depending on the activity and whether you will be on Federal, State or Tribal land. To learn where fees exist and the variety of pass and permit options available to you, check with the agency that manages the public land you plan to access.

State Trust Lands

Montana State Parks are not State Trust Lands. State Trust Lands are managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) to generate income for public schools and other public institutions. Legally accessible State Trust Lands can be accessed by public roads, public easements, public waters that are recreationally navigable under the Stream Access Law, by adjacent federal, state, county, or municipal land that is open to public use, or by permission of an adjacent private landowner.

Check with the Department of Natural Resources (DNRC) for land ownership maps and more information regarding State Lands. Contact:

• Department of Natural Resources & Conservation (DNRC)
• 1625 Eleventh Ave.
• Helena, MT 59601
• Phone:(406) 444-2074
• Fax: (406) 444-2684

A State Trust Lands Recreational Use License is required for anyone conducting a non-commercial activity on State Trust Lands not related to hunting and fishing. Applicable non-commercial activities include, but are not limited to, hiking, skiing, sightseeing, and day horseback use. The State Lands Recreational Use License is available from any authorized FWP license agent or through the automated Online Licensing System (ALS). (Montana Residents who don't already have an ALS number must purchase the State Trust Lands Recreational Use License in person from a license agent.) The permit is valid for one license year—March 1 to the last day of February.

Federal Lands

Check with the US Forest Service and the Bureau of Land Management about permit and fee information for recreating on federal lands in Montana.

US Forest Service – National Forest passes and permit information available here.
You can also contact one of the US Forest Service offices below:

• Beaverhead- Deerlodge NF – (406) 683-3900
• Bitterroot NF – (406) 363-7100
• Custer NF – (406) 255-1400
• Flathead NF – (406) 758-5204
• Gallatin NF – (406) 587-6701
• Helena NF – (406) 449-5201
• Kootenai NF – (406) 293-6211
• Lewis & Clark NF – (406) 791-7700
• Lolo NF – (406) 329-3750

Bureau of Land Management (BLM) – If you plan to recreate on Bureau of Land Management lands, you can find permit information, updated fire restrictions, and seasonal closures for trails and recreation sites here, or contact the BLM state office at:

• BLM Montana/Dakotas State Office
• 5001 Southgate Dr
• Billings, MT 59101
• Fax: (406) 896-5298

Tribal Lands

Montana has seven Indian Reservations that often border US Forest Service or BLM lands. Most tribal governments have made provisions for limited public access. Check with the governing tribal office to determine the requirements for recreating within the reservation boundaries. A special permit is typically required and can be found at area stores or gas stations on tribal reservations. For further details about tribal locations and information, contact:

The Montana State Trails Plan is designed to provide long-term, direction for the statewide public trail system, including both motorized and nonmotorized trails. This Plan is a guide for trail managers with information about the issues and needs of trail users.

The entire Montana State Trails Plan, in PDF format, is divided into the following sections for faster downloading:

Table of Contents	115 KB
Preface	103 KB
Executive Summary Introduction, vision, and overview.	377 KB
Chapter I: Introduction Rationale for Montana State Trails Plan, overview of planning process and benefits and impacts.	260 KB
Chapter II: Inventory of Montana's Trail System Montana's trail system; location, number, and miles of trails managed by various agencies.	515 KB
Chapter III: Trail Use, User Attitudes, and Trends Understanding trail use, national trends, and trail supply and demand.	428 KB
Chapter IV: Trail Access and Linear Corridor Alternatives Access to trails and public land, federal policies, and rights-of- way.	376 KB
Chapter V: Trail Funding Federal funding sources, state trails grant program, and other funding sources.	192 KB
Chapter VI: The Direction from Here: Trail Issues, Goals, & Strategies Issues, goals, and strategies.	360 KB
Chapter VII: References Cited	167 KB
Chapter VIII: Glossary of Acronyms	46 KB
Appendices	32 KB
Appendix A Organization and list of members, and FWP trail program committees.	63 KB
Appendix B Case study of a success story.	178 KB
Appendix C Summary of Plan/PEIS public comments.	268 KB
Appendix D Trail acronyms and glossary.	883 KB
Appendix E Trail construction criteria.	283 KB

The links below provide tools and resources gathered from a wide variety of industry sources ranging from Federal agencies to privately funded organizations all supporting the goals of the Recreational Trails Program.

Highlighted Resources

• National Trails Training Partnership
  Agencies working together to promote trail training and resources.
• National Trails System
  The network of scenic, historic, and recreation trails created by the National Trails System Act of 1968.
• U.S. Bicycle Route System
  The American Association of State Highway Transportation Officials (AASHTO) is hosting a Task Force to develop a national interstate route system for bicycle routes, with input from States and national bicycle advocacy organizations. The Adventure Cycling Association provides staff support. The Task Force has developed a report and a draft corridor plan.
• Rails to Trails Conservancy
  Creating a nationwide network of trails from former rail lines and connecting corridors to build healthier places for healthier people.
• American Trails
  Nonprofit organization works to enhance and protect America's network of interconnected trails. Includes action alerts, events calendar, and database of trails.

For a full list of resources, see:

• Federal Agencies >>
• Trail Organizations >>
• Trail Information Resources >>
• Newsletters, News Magazines, and Websites >>

The State Trails Advisory Committee advises FWP on trail issues in Montana relating to the funding, provision of, development, renovation, maintenance, management, usage and promotion of recreational trails in an environmentally responsible manner on city, county, state, federal and private lands.

Montana State Parks are great places to hike. The following list highlights just a few of the many trails available. See below for more options.

Featured Montana State Park Hiking Trails

• Hell Creek State Park—Plan a moderately challenging 2-hour hike around the outskirts of the park on the "Mule Deer Trail," or for the more adventurous, grab a paleo kit from the park office, and head into the Breaks up the "Dinosaur Trail." Hike to where, in 1902, one of the first major fossil finds of a T-rex was unearthed.
• Lake Elmo State Park—Come out for a walk at the park any time of year. Enjoy a 1.4 mile stroll around the lake; you may have the opportunity to see deer, fox, turkey, pheasants and a wide variety of waterfowl. Bring along your fishing pole as the lake is regularly stocked. Kids will love the playground adjacent to the trail.
• Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park—The trails of Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park allow the visitor to enjoy and experience many aspects of the park above and beyond the caverns.
• Lone Pine State Park—Plan a couple of hours to picnic and hike along a self-guided nature trail and several informal hiking trails. Horse trails are also available. Three scenic overlooks provide spectacular vistas all the way from Flathead Lake to Glacier National Park.
• Makoshika State Park—Montana’s largest state park boasts something for every hiker and skill level. Unparalleled panoramic views abound from rugged peaks and valleys. Makoshika holds 20% of Montana’s most rugged Badlands and with 600’ in elevation difference from the lowest point to the highest, hikers should be prepared with good footwear and drinking water. Horses and bicycles are allowed in the park although currently the developed trails are exclusive to pedestrian traffic only.
• Missouri Headwaters State Park—Enjoy following the Fort Rock Trail and remember Native people and such early explorers as Lewis and Clark, who used the area hundreds of years ago. Vistas of several mountain ranges, overlooking the three forks of the Missouri will capture your attention. Along the way you might bump into several of the many bird and wildlife species who use this area. There is interpretive signage along your way to tell the many fascinating stories associated with this area.
• River's Edge Trail—This 25-mile trail around Great Falls is a collaborative effort between several agencies, counties, and the city of Great Falls. The trail offers 11 miles of paved surface and is ADA accessible. The Rivers Edge Trail connects several parks including Giant Springs State Park and other points of interest along the Missouri River including Black Eagle Falls, Rainbow Falls, Crooked Falls, and Great Falls of the Missouri just below Ryan Dam.
• Find more Montana State Park hiking options >>

Additional Montana Hiking Trail Information

• Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, Hungry Horse, Montana
• Gallatin Valley Land Trust, Bozeman, Montana
• Montana Wilderness Association, Kalispell, Montana
• Prickly Pear Land Trust, Helena, Montana
• Swan Ecosystem Center, Swan Valley, Montana.
• Swan View Coalition, Kalispell, Montana
• The AWOL Institute, Missoula, Montana