Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is a vast national forest in southwestern Montana, recognized as the largest in the state. It encompasses a diverse landscape across multiple mountain ranges, including portions of the Anaconda-Pintler, Beaverhead, and Bitterroot Mountains. The terrain varies from high alpine peaks and dense forests to broad, fertile valleys, providing a wide range of environments suitable for several sports like hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, and jogging.
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest offers more…
45
Routes
4.3
(5)
Average rating
198
People visited

11
hikers
5.59km
01:55
480m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

4
hikers
3.97km
01:17
470m
Easy hike. Great for any fitness level. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
7.70km
02:50
820m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.

1
hikers
10.1km
02:57
450m
10m
Moderate hike. Good fitness required. Easily-accessible paths. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

6
riders
18.7km
02:20
780m
770m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

28.5km
02:50
760m
760m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary.

9.04km
01:06
350m
350m
Moderate mountain bike ride. Good fitness required. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
riders
44.8km
04:39
1,150m
1,160m
Hard mountain bike ride. Very good fitness required. Advanced riding skills necessary. Some portions of the route may require you to push your bike.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

4.0
(1)
3
riders
28.0km
01:28
190m
190m
Easy road ride. Great for any fitness level. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

2
riders
100km
04:47
870m
870m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

1
riders
66.3km
02:55
610m
610m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.

51.0km
02:13
390m
390m
Moderate road ride. Good fitness required. Mostly well-paved surfaces and easy to ride.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?

25.6km
02:24
80m
80m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

52.0km
03:38
740m
740m
Hard bike ride. Very good fitness required. You may need to push your bike for some segments of this route.

1
riders
32.5km
02:36
170m
170m
Moderate bike ride. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

7
runners
6.99km
00:46
80m
80m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
runners
6.81km
00:43
60m
60m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

5
runners
9.44km
00:59
90m
90m
Moderate run. Good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.

3
runners
16.7km
01:45
120m
120m
Hard run. Very good fitness required. Mostly paved surfaces. Suitable for all skill levels.
Get access to more routes and recommendations from other explorers.
Sign up for free
Already have an account?
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is the largest national forest in Montana, encompassing over 3.4 million acres. It features diverse landscapes across multiple mountain ranges, including high alpine peaks, dense forests, and fertile valleys.
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest offers a variety of outdoor activities, including hiking, road cycling, mountain biking, and jogging. The forest provides an extensive network of trails and scenic byways for these sports.
The forest contains more than 1,500 miles (over 2,400 km) of hiking trails. This network includes sections of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Nez Perce National Historical Trail, alongside numerous local routes.
Yes, Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest offers trails suitable for various skill levels, including gradual valley paths. For specific easy routes, consult the Easy hikes in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest guide.
Popular hiking trails include routes to Helmet and Sphinx Mountain, Bell Lake Trail, and Deerhead Lake Trail. Many trails lead to high mountain lakes and offer opportunities for wildlife viewing. More options are available in the Hiking in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest guide.
Yes, the forest has numerous trails suitable for mountain biking, including multi-use trails like Beaverponds Trail #105. There are approximately 35 miles (57 km) of trails specifically for biking, ranging from intermediate to difficult. Find more details in the MTB Trails in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest guide.
Scenic byways, such as the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, provide excellent opportunities for road cycling. These routes offer views of granite peaks and forested terrain. Refer to the Road Cycling Routes in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest guide for more information.
Many of the forest's extensive hiking trails can be used for jogging, with varied terrain for different running preferences. Some sections of the Continental Divide Trail are also suitable for running. The Running Trails in Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest guide provides further details.
Notable features include high alpine lakes, granite peaks reaching over 10,000 feet (3,000 m), and diverse woodlands. The Big Hole River, a blue-ribbon trout stream, flows through the area, and natural hot springs like Upper Potosi Hot Springs are also present.
Regulations regarding dogs can vary by specific trail or area within a national forest. Visitors should check local signage or contact the forest service directly for current rules on pet access and leash requirements.
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has attracted over 700 visitors on komoot. The routes within the forest have an average rating of 4.19 out of 5 stars, indicating a positive community experience.
The official website for Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is fs.usda.gov/bdnf. The phone number for the Supervisor's Office is +1-406-683-3900.

