Hiking Montana’s gorgeous trails is fun for the whole family, and it’s something we should be encouraging our young Montanans to do from an early age. However, little legs and short attention spans make some of our longer trails tough for them to handle. Fortunately, we’ve discovered a few short-and-sweet hikes in the Treasure State that they’ll love. Here are nine of the best hikes in Montana that are all 1 mile or under.
- Palisade Falls, Bozeman
Corbin Stokes / alltrails.com This single-mile trail has everything children and kids at heart love: Beautiful scenery, an easy trail, and of course, a breathtaking waterfall. Palisade Falls is easily one of the best hikes in Montana for kids. Palisade Falls, Montana 59047, USA
- St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail, Glacier National Park
Amanda Kimsey / alltrails.com This trail is over 2 miles in its entirety, but you won’t have to go very far to see the first of the waterfalls. This is one of the easiest hikes in the park for families, and luckily, it also happens to be one of the most beautiful. Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
- Running Eagle Falls Trail, Glacier National Park
Luke Abram / alltrails.com Another short-and-sweet trail at Glacier (only 0.6 miles to be exact) takes you to this stunner. You can never go wrong with a waterfall hike in Montana. Running Eagle Falls, Montana 59434, USA
- Diane Gabriel Trail, Makoshika State Park
Ronnie Housh / alltrails.com Named after a paleontologist who did extensive research at Makoshika, the Diane Gabriel Trail is a very enjoyable 0.7-mile hike. You’ll see an excavation site where a fossilized Hadrosaur was found along with the beautiful grasslands. Makoshika State Park Road, Makoshika State Park Rd, Glendive, MT 59330, USA
- Rat Lake Trail, Gallatin Gateway
Rachel Smith / alltrails.com This mile-long loop is popular both with locals and travelers on their way to Yellowstone National Park. You may want to take your fishing poles and make a day of it. Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730, USA
- Pictograph Cave State Park Trail, Billings
Jonathan Eyestone / alltrails.com Not only is this trail nice and short (just under a mile round trip), but it leads to a National Historic Landmark, so it’s a great learning experience for kids. You can learn more about this hiking trail in Montana on the AllTrails website. Pictograph Cave State Park, 3401 Coburn Rd, Billings, MT 59101, USA
- Sourdough Creek Nature Trail, Bozeman
Hannah Wambolt / alltrails.com This nice, easy hike is located in such a peaceful setting, the mile-long walk will go by in no time. This is easily one of the best hikes in Montana that your kids are sure to love. Bozeman, MT, USA
- Kootenai Falls Trail, near Troy
Daniel Mitchell / alltrails.com This breathtaking 0.9-mile trek will make an outdoor enthusiast out of any child. This no-hassle hike has an easy-to-find parking lot nearby, the trail is well-marked, and of course, there’s a gorgeous waterfall at the end. Kootenai Falls, MT 59935, USA
- Trail of the Cedars, Glacier National Park
Drew Christiano / alltrails.com Are you hiking with little ones? Not only is this 0.9-mile trek a breeze, but the boardwalks make it totally kid-friendly as well. This scenic hike in Montana is one that you’ll certainly want to add to your bucket list. Trail of the Cedars Nature Trail, West Glacier, MT 59936, USA
Hiking in Montana is fun for everyone. Have you explored any of the hikes listed above? What do you think are the best hikes in Montana? Let us know in the comments! And, if you are looking for even more scenic hikes, here’s another great list of trails that are under 3 miles in length.
Corbin Stokes / alltrails.com
This single-mile trail has everything children and kids at heart love: Beautiful scenery, an easy trail, and of course, a breathtaking waterfall. Palisade Falls is easily one of the best hikes in Montana for kids.
Palisade Falls, Montana 59047, USA
Amanda Kimsey / alltrails.com
This trail is over 2 miles in its entirety, but you won’t have to go very far to see the first of the waterfalls. This is one of the easiest hikes in the park for families, and luckily, it also happens to be one of the most beautiful.
Glacier National Park, Montana, USA
Luke Abram / alltrails.com
Another short-and-sweet trail at Glacier (only 0.6 miles to be exact) takes you to this stunner. You can never go wrong with a waterfall hike in Montana.
Running Eagle Falls, Montana 59434, USA
Ronnie Housh / alltrails.com
Named after a paleontologist who did extensive research at Makoshika, the Diane Gabriel Trail is a very enjoyable 0.7-mile hike. You’ll see an excavation site where a fossilized Hadrosaur was found along with the beautiful grasslands.
Makoshika State Park Road, Makoshika State Park Rd, Glendive, MT 59330, USA
Rachel Smith / alltrails.com
This mile-long loop is popular both with locals and travelers on their way to Yellowstone National Park. You may want to take your fishing poles and make a day of it.
Gallatin Gateway, MT 59730, USA
Jonathan Eyestone / alltrails.com
Not only is this trail nice and short (just under a mile round trip), but it leads to a National Historic Landmark, so it’s a great learning experience for kids. You can learn more about this hiking trail in Montana on the AllTrails website.
Pictograph Cave State Park, 3401 Coburn Rd, Billings, MT 59101, USA
Hannah Wambolt / alltrails.com
This nice, easy hike is located in such a peaceful setting, the mile-long walk will go by in no time. This is easily one of the best hikes in Montana that your kids are sure to love.
Bozeman, MT, USA
Daniel Mitchell / alltrails.com
This breathtaking 0.9-mile trek will make an outdoor enthusiast out of any child. This no-hassle hike has an easy-to-find parking lot nearby, the trail is well-marked, and of course, there’s a gorgeous waterfall at the end.
Kootenai Falls, MT 59935, USA
Drew Christiano / alltrails.com
Are you hiking with little ones? Not only is this 0.9-mile trek a breeze, but the boardwalks make it totally kid-friendly as well. This scenic hike in Montana is one that you’ll certainly want to add to your bucket list.
Trail of the Cedars Nature Trail, West Glacier, MT 59936, USA
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The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes in Montana April 25, 2022 Courtnie Erickson What are some of the best scenic hikes in Montana? It is almost impossible to narrow down the best scenic hikes in Montana. All over the state, you will find hiking trails that lead to incredible destinations and that are beautiful every step of the way. If we had to narrow down some of the best scenic hikes in Montana, Grotto Falls would certainly make the list. This 2.4-mile trail is near the small town of Emigrant. If you hike this trail in the winter, you’ll encounter a frozen waterfall. In the summer, you’ll find flowing water surrounded by natural beauty — you may never want to leave. For a scenic hike in Montana that is a bit longer and more challenging, tackle the Camas Lake Trail. This hiking trail is located near Hamilton, Montana, and is 5.5 miles. The lake views are quite beautiful at the end of this hike and we suggest you explore this hike early in the morning or in the evening — the sunrises and sunsets in this area are breathtaking! Glacier National Park is home to multiple scenic hiking trails and one of our favorites is the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail. In the summer, this trail takes you through some of the most beautiful wildflower fields. This is a 5-mile trail so make sure you are prepared for a longer trek.
The OIYS Visitor Center
Best Hikes in Montana
April 25, 2022
Courtnie Erickson
What are some of the best scenic hikes in Montana? It is almost impossible to narrow down the best scenic hikes in Montana. All over the state, you will find hiking trails that lead to incredible destinations and that are beautiful every step of the way. If we had to narrow down some of the best scenic hikes in Montana, Grotto Falls would certainly make the list. This 2.4-mile trail is near the small town of Emigrant. If you hike this trail in the winter, you’ll encounter a frozen waterfall. In the summer, you’ll find flowing water surrounded by natural beauty — you may never want to leave. For a scenic hike in Montana that is a bit longer and more challenging, tackle the Camas Lake Trail. This hiking trail is located near Hamilton, Montana, and is 5.5 miles. The lake views are quite beautiful at the end of this hike and we suggest you explore this hike early in the morning or in the evening — the sunrises and sunsets in this area are breathtaking! Glacier National Park is home to multiple scenic hiking trails and one of our favorites is the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail. In the summer, this trail takes you through some of the most beautiful wildflower fields. This is a 5-mile trail so make sure you are prepared for a longer trek.
The OIYS Visitor Center
The OIYS Visitor Center
It is almost impossible to narrow down the best scenic hikes in Montana. All over the state, you will find hiking trails that lead to incredible destinations and that are beautiful every step of the way. If we had to narrow down some of the best scenic hikes in Montana, Grotto Falls would certainly make the list. This 2.4-mile trail is near the small town of Emigrant. If you hike this trail in the winter, you’ll encounter a frozen waterfall. In the summer, you’ll find flowing water surrounded by natural beauty — you may never want to leave.
For a scenic hike in Montana that is a bit longer and more challenging, tackle the Camas Lake Trail. This hiking trail is located near Hamilton, Montana, and is 5.5 miles. The lake views are quite beautiful at the end of this hike and we suggest you explore this hike early in the morning or in the evening — the sunrises and sunsets in this area are breathtaking!
Glacier National Park is home to multiple scenic hiking trails and one of our favorites is the Hidden Lake Overlook Trail. In the summer, this trail takes you through some of the most beautiful wildflower fields. This is a 5-mile trail so make sure you are prepared for a longer trek.
