- The rugged Tobacco Root Mountains offer awesome beauty, wildflowers (during the spring and summer) and some of the best hiking trails in Montana.
- The Tobacco Roots generally hold snow at least until early July and are usually accessible until late September.
Overview
The Tobacco Root Mountains are located about 40 mile west of Bozeman Montana and shadow the small town of Pony Montana. These rugged mountains offer awesome beauty, wildflowers (during the spring and summer) and some of the best hiking trails in Montana.
Location/Directions
The Tobacco Roots are located in southwest Montana, about 45 miles west of Bozeman, north of the Gravelly Range and west of the Madison and Bridger Ranges. They are located between the Madison and Jefferson rivers. The Tobacco Roots are approximately 26 miles long and average 18 miles wide.
The majority of the Tobacco Roots Mountains are within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, 420 Barrett St. Dillon, MT 59725, and (406) 683-3900.
Seasons
The Tobacco Roots generally hold snow at least until early July and are usually accessible until late September or so (without a 4wd), but this will obviously depend on the year.
Activities
Hiking
The Tobacco Root Mountains are best known for the many hiking and mountaineering opportunities that they provide.
Louis Lake
Louise Lake is extremely popular with families, but is only 3.5 miles from the trailhead, with not much elevation gain to the lake.
The trail to Lake Louise is a good family hike to a high lake deep in the Tobacco Root Mountains. It is best to wait until at least mid-July for the snow to melt. The Forest Service has recognized this route as a National Recreation Trail for its outstanding scenery and exceptional recreational opportunities.
This is a 7 miles total hike, out and back and is good for a day hike or for an overnighter. The skill level for this hike is moderate.
Hollow Top Lake
This mountain lake is bordered on three sides by the high peaks of the eastern Tobacco Root Mountains. The first part of this trail, 1.5 miles is a multiuse trail welcoming ATVs and motorcycles.
This is 12.5 miles loop hike, which makes for a good long day or an easy overnighter.
Camping
There are several good campsites south of the town of Mammoth, these can also be busy during the weekends. There are numerous options for camping near many of the lakes,
