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Moderate Hiking Trails in Montana

The directory currently contains 16 quality-checked routes matching this guide in Montana. Their average mapped distance is 7.9 km and average recorded ascent is 305 m (1,001 ft); the longest route in the set is 13.4 km.

This subset represents 46% of the 35 quality-checked routes in Montana. Its average distance is 7.9 km, compared with 15.5 km across the full local set. Average recorded ascent is 305 m (1,001 ft), versus 509 m (1,670 ft) for all quality-checked routes in the same area.

Every route in this set is rated moderate by the directory’s distance-and-elevation model. Technical terrain and live conditions are not part of that rating. Within this set, 0 routes (0%) are rated easy, 0 (0%) are rated hard or expert, and 0 (0%) are recorded as loops. Ratings are computed from available distance and elevation data and do not establish current terrain or access.

Data refreshed September 2026

Choose by the details

How do these routes differ?

A closer look at the first 6 routes in this page’s default ordering. These comparisons describe this sample, not the entire destination or a field-tested recommendation.

Shortest mapped distance in this sample

2.2 km

Mokowanis Lake Trail

Compare the climbing too; shortest does not necessarily mean easiest.

Lowest recorded ascent in this sample

0 m

Copperway Regional Trail

6 of 6 have ascent data. Missing measurements are excluded.

Return logistics

0 recorded loops

Check start and finish for every option. An unknown shape does not mean a loop, and a loop does not establish access to its start.

Plan the return journey →

Distances follow stored route lines; ascent and time are estimates. Current access, surface and technical difficulty need separate checks. How to turn a comparison into a shortlist.

Trails

Sedimentary rock layers (light coloured) capped by a sill of diorite (dark coloured) at Iceberg Lake Ridge in Glacier National Park in Montana, USA.
Moderate

Iceberg Lake Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
3.4 km
/ 2.1 mi
Elevation gain
156 m
Typical duration
56 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Mokowanis Lake Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
2.2 km
/ 1.4 mi
Elevation gain
91 m
Typical duration
36 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Beaver Ponds Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
243 m
Typical duration
2 hr 9 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Akokala Lake Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
8.9 km
/ 5.5 mi
Elevation gain
420 m
Typical duration
2 hr 29 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Helen Lake Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
6.8 km
/ 4.2 mi
Elevation gain
75 m
Typical duration
1 hr 31 min
  • Lake
  • Mountain
Moderate

Palookaville Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
13.4 km
/ 8.3 mi
Elevation gain
31 m
Typical duration
2 hr 50 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

North Boundary Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
427 m
Typical duration
2 hr 25 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Kintla Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
8.9 km
/ 5.5 mi
Elevation gain
243 m
Typical duration
2 hr 13 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Swamp Creek Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
5.7 km
/ 3.5 mi
Elevation gain
656 m
Typical duration
2 hr 10 min
  • River
  • Mountain
Moderate

South Pasture

Montana · United States

Distance
8.0 km
/ 5.0 mi
Elevation gain
554 m
Typical duration
2 hr 30 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

null

Montana · United States

Distance
8.0 km
/ 5.0 mi
Elevation gain
554 m
Typical duration
2 hr 30 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Gilmore Cabin Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
8.7 km
/ 5.4 mi
Elevation gain
97 m
Typical duration
1 hr 58 min
  • Mountain
Moderate

Cabinet Divide South Trail

Montana · United States

Distance
8.5 km
/ 5.3 mi
Elevation gain
233 m
Typical duration
2 hr 7 min
  • Mountain

The shortlist, side by side

The ten highest scoring routes on this page, so you can compare effort before opening any of them.

Distance, ascent, walking time and difficulty for the top routes
RouteDistanceAscentTimeDifficultyBest season
Iceberg Lake TrailMontana3.4 km156 m56 minModerateJune to October
Mokowanis Lake TrailMontana2.2 km91 m36 minModerateApril to October
Beaver Ponds TrailMontana8.5 km243 m2 hr 9 minModerateJune to October
Como Lake Loop National Recreation TrailMontana11.7 km199 m2 hr 45 minModerateApril to October
Akokala Lake TrailMontana8.9 km420 m2 hr 29 minModerateApril to October
Copperway Regional TrailMontana8.3 km0 m1 hr 44 minModerateApril to October
Helen Lake TrailMontana6.8 km75 m1 hr 31 minModerateApril to October
Rainy Divide Loop / Canoe Gulch #512Montana6.3 km897 m2 hr 40 minModerateApril to October
Palookaville TrailMontana13.4 km31 m2 hr 50 minModerateJune to October
North Boundary TrailMontana8.5 km427 m2 hr 25 minModerateJune to October

Mokowanis Lake Trail, Iceberg Lake Trail, Beaver Ponds Trail currently rank highest in this filtered set according to the directory score. Open an individual route to inspect its mapped line, elevation profile, data source and planning caveats. Check live access, conditions and local rules with an official source before travelling.

Frequently asked questions

Plan with more confidence

All planning articles →

Choosing a route

How to choose a hike beyond the difficulty label

Compare distance, climbing, route shape and missing information to build a shortlist that fits your day.

Read article →

Understanding the map

Read an elevation profile without misreading the climb

Understand total ascent, net height change, profile scale and the section breakdown on each mapped route.

Read article →

Planning your day

Build a hiking time plan with room for your own pace

Separate moving time, climbing allowance and stops, then explore how changing your assumptions changes the plan.

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