There’s something special about stumbling upon a foot bridge on a hiking trail. They make exercise seem a little more magical, which is probably something all of us could use. Some of the best hikes in Montana feature enchanting foot bridges that you’ll want to cross over and over again. Check out the bridges on these Treasure State trails and you’ll see what we mean.
- Welcome Creek Trail, Lolo National Forest
Sara Lohman / alltrails.com You’ll find the trailhead for this 6-mile venture near the town of Clinton. While it’s not extremely challenging, there are a few things (think steep climbs and stinging nettles) that make it unpleasant for young children. The swinging bridge, however, it a great highlight. You can learn more about this scenic hiking trail in Montana on the AllTrails website. Welcome Creek Trail, Montana 59825, USA
- John H. Dover Memorial Park Loop, Billings
James Werth / alltrails.com This peaceful park sits on the banks of the Yellowstone River. The 2-mile loop trail is beautiful, easy, and features several foot bridges. John H. Dover Memorial Park, 2531 Mary St, Billings, MT 59105, USA
- Johns Lake Loop, Glacier National Park
Carlie Hoffman / alltrails.com Located near Essex, this 1.9-mile trail is great for beginning hikers. The loop takes you around Johns Lake, Sacred Dancing Cascade, and McDonald Falls. The views from the foot bridge are unreal. You can learn more about this trail on AllTrails. Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
- Avalanche Lake, Glacier National Park
Kymberly Lockard / alltrails.com This popular Glacier National Park trail begins near Lake McDonald, traipsing through old-growth cedars and hemlock forest along a stream to a glacial melt lake. At 5.7 miles in length, it’s not a short hike, but it’s not exceptionally challenging, either. Avalanche Lake, Montana 59936, USA
- Saint Paul Lake Trail, Noxon
Donna Vetter / alltrails.com This 7-mile out-and-back trail near Noxon takes you through mossy cedar groves to a quiet lake, with a couple of beautiful foot bridges along the way. The view at the top is stunning, so it’s well worth powering through the elevation gain. Noxon, MT 59853, USA
- St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail, Glacier National Park
Grace Nguyen / alltrails.com You’ve got to love a trail that takes you to not one, but two breathtaking waterfalls. The trailhead for the 2.9-mile trek is located near East Glacier Park Village, and the wooden foot bridge is definitely one of the highlights. The St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail is one of the best hikes in Montana. Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
- Kootenai Falls Trail, Libby
Holly Hayes / Flickr Of course, the most iconic foot bridge in Montana is probably the swinging bridge on the Kootenai Falls Trail. This easy 1-mile trek has an easily accessible parking lot, a well-marked trailhead, and of course, the beautiful waterfall at the end. Kootenai Falls, Montana 59923, USA
Hiking in Montana is an extraordinary experience. What are your favorite hiking trails in our great state? What do you think are the best hikes in Montana? Let us know in the comments! If you’re just getting started and are a beginning hiker, try one of these trails for mere mortals first.
Sara Lohman / alltrails.com
You’ll find the trailhead for this 6-mile venture near the town of Clinton. While it’s not extremely challenging, there are a few things (think steep climbs and stinging nettles) that make it unpleasant for young children. The swinging bridge, however, it a great highlight. You can learn more about this scenic hiking trail in Montana on the AllTrails website.
Welcome Creek Trail, Montana 59825, USA
James Werth / alltrails.com
This peaceful park sits on the banks of the Yellowstone River. The 2-mile loop trail is beautiful, easy, and features several foot bridges.
John H. Dover Memorial Park, 2531 Mary St, Billings, MT 59105, USA
Carlie Hoffman / alltrails.com
Located near Essex, this 1.9-mile trail is great for beginning hikers. The loop takes you around Johns Lake, Sacred Dancing Cascade, and McDonald Falls. The views from the foot bridge are unreal. You can learn more about this trail on AllTrails.
Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
Kymberly Lockard / alltrails.com
This popular Glacier National Park trail begins near Lake McDonald, traipsing through old-growth cedars and hemlock forest along a stream to a glacial melt lake. At 5.7 miles in length, it’s not a short hike, but it’s not exceptionally challenging, either.
Avalanche Lake, Montana 59936, USA
Donna Vetter / alltrails.com
This 7-mile out-and-back trail near Noxon takes you through mossy cedar groves to a quiet lake, with a couple of beautiful foot bridges along the way. The view at the top is stunning, so it’s well worth powering through the elevation gain.
Noxon, MT 59853, USA
Grace Nguyen / alltrails.com
You’ve got to love a trail that takes you to not one, but two breathtaking waterfalls. The trailhead for the 2.9-mile trek is located near East Glacier Park Village, and the wooden foot bridge is definitely one of the highlights. The St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail is one of the best hikes in Montana.
Holly Hayes / Flickr
Of course, the most iconic foot bridge in Montana is probably the swinging bridge on the Kootenai Falls Trail. This easy 1-mile trek has an easily accessible parking lot, a well-marked trailhead, and of course, the beautiful waterfall at the end.
Kootenai Falls, Montana 59923, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best hikes in Montana April 19, 2022 Courtnie Erickson What are some kid-friendly hikes around Montana? There’s no doubt that the entire state of Montana is a hiker’s paradise. However, some days, you simply don’t have the time or energy to explore a long and strenuous trail. When you are searching for easy hikes in Montana that the entire family can enjoy, the options are extensive. One of our favorite kid-friendly hikes is Palisade Falls near Bozeman. This trail is quite easy and is beautiful from start to finish. Plus, the waterfall at the end makes every step well worth it. If visiting Glacier National Park, check out the Running Eagle Falls Trail. This easy and scenic hiking trail in Montana is only 0.6 miles and takes you to a beautiful waterfall. This short hike takes very little time to complete, giving you plenty of time to continue exploring all that this beautiful national park has to offer. Also in Glacier National park is Trail of the Cedars. This boardwalk trail is 0.9-miles and is flat, easy, and beautiful. The boardwalk makes this trail highly accessible, so you can easily bring your entire family along — wheelchairs and strollers included. During your journey, make sure you look up as some of the trees that you’ll pass on your journey are more than 500 years old. You’ll find this trailhead approximately five miles east of the Lake McDonald Lodge
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best hikes in Montana
April 19, 2022
Courtnie Erickson
What are some kid-friendly hikes around Montana? There’s no doubt that the entire state of Montana is a hiker’s paradise. However, some days, you simply don’t have the time or energy to explore a long and strenuous trail. When you are searching for easy hikes in Montana that the entire family can enjoy, the options are extensive. One of our favorite kid-friendly hikes is Palisade Falls near Bozeman. This trail is quite easy and is beautiful from start to finish. Plus, the waterfall at the end makes every step well worth it. If visiting Glacier National Park, check out the Running Eagle Falls Trail. This easy and scenic hiking trail in Montana is only 0.6 miles and takes you to a beautiful waterfall. This short hike takes very little time to complete, giving you plenty of time to continue exploring all that this beautiful national park has to offer. Also in Glacier National park is Trail of the Cedars. This boardwalk trail is 0.9-miles and is flat, easy, and beautiful. The boardwalk makes this trail highly accessible, so you can easily bring your entire family along — wheelchairs and strollers included. During your journey, make sure you look up as some of the trees that you’ll pass on your journey are more than 500 years old. You’ll find this trailhead approximately five miles east of the Lake McDonald Lodge
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
There’s no doubt that the entire state of Montana is a hiker’s paradise. However, some days, you simply don’t have the time or energy to explore a long and strenuous trail. When you are searching for easy hikes in Montana that the entire family can enjoy, the options are extensive. One of our favorite kid-friendly hikes is Palisade Falls near Bozeman. This trail is quite easy and is beautiful from start to finish. Plus, the waterfall at the end makes every step well worth it.
If visiting Glacier National Park, check out the Running Eagle Falls Trail. This easy and scenic hiking trail in Montana is only 0.6 miles and takes you to a beautiful waterfall. This short hike takes very little time to complete, giving you plenty of time to continue exploring all that this beautiful national park has to offer.
Also in Glacier National park is Trail of the Cedars. This boardwalk trail is 0.9-miles and is flat, easy, and beautiful. The boardwalk makes this trail highly accessible, so you can easily bring your entire family along — wheelchairs and strollers included. During your journey, make sure you look up as some of the trees that you’ll pass on your journey are more than 500 years old. You’ll find this trailhead approximately five miles east of the Lake McDonald Lodge
