Take An Easy Out-And-Back Trail To Enter Another World At Drinking Horse Trail In Montana

While there's never truly a bad time to get out and enjoy Montana's great outdoors, most of our hiking trails are best enjoyed in the late spring or summertime. If you're trying to decide where your first hike of the season should be, we highly recommend checking out the Drinking Horse Mountain Trail. This nice, pleasant loop will leave you breathless, but only because of the views.

Drinking Horse Mountain is located in the Bozeman area, but you'll feel like you're in your own world instead of mere minutes from one of Montana's largest cities.

This 2-mile loop shines its brightest from early May until mid-September, but you can check it out anytime.

This trail can be busy during the summer, but it's not as well-known as some of the others in the area.

Go during the week and early in the day, to avoid other hikers.

From the trailhead at Bridger Canyon Road (which has a parking lot), you'll make your way downhill into the trees at first, crossing a bridge to a large gate that designates the Drinking Horse Mountain area.

From there, the uphill adventure begins.

This trail is ranked as moderate, meaning it's somewhat challenging, but not too strenuous for most Montanans.

It's a bit of a steep climb, but the views are worth it.

Eventually, you'll come to the top, where you can take in views of Bridger Canyon and the Gallatin Valley.

This is definitely one of the most beautiful parts of Montana, and the views from this trail are amazing.

This trail has been popular for over a decade, after the land was donated by the White family in the early 2000s.

The trail was completed in 2009 after the Gallatin Valley Land Trust and the USFS for Gallatin National Forest teamed up to make it easily accessible.

Don't miss this gorgeous nature trail, perfect for stretching your legs after a long period indoors.

This hike will make you appreciate Montana life all over again.

Have you ever hiked this trail? Here are some other Treasure State trails under 3 miles long that are always worth exploring.