9 Totally Kid-Friendly Hikes In Montana That Are 1 Mile And Under
By Jessica Wick|Updated on July 07, 2023(Originally published July 04, 2023)
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Jessica Wick
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Jessica Wick is a writer and travel enthusiast who loves exploring new places, meeting new people and, of course, beautiful Big Sky Country and every part of Washington State.
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 kid-friendly hikes in Montana that are all one mile or less. Enjoy!
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 one of the best hikes in Montana for kids.
2. St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail, Glacier National Park
The St. Mary and Virginia Falls Trail is over two 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.
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3. Running Eagle Falls Trail, Glacier National Park
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.
4. Diane Gabriel Trail, Makoshika State Park
Makoshika State Park Road, Makoshika State Park Rd, Glendive, MT 59330, USA
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.
This short loop trail in Montana 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.
6. Pictograph Cave State Park Trail, Billings
Pictograph Cave State Park, 3401 Coburn Rd, Billings, MT 59101, USA
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 by hiking it!
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.
Kootenai Falls Trail 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.
9. Trail of the Cedars, Glacier National Park
Trail of the Cedars Nature Trailhead, West Glacier, MT 59936, USA
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.
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 are some awesome short hikes in Montana all under three miles in length. Oh, and don’t forget to amp up your hiking game with the official AllTrails+. It’s worth it, we promise!
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Kid Friendly Hikes in Montana
Courtnie Erickson|April 25, 2022
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.
