Distance is one measure of a hike. Elevation gain is the one that decides how your legs feel the next morning. We pulled every trail in Montana with a measurable elevation-gain tag — out of the 6,169 entries OutsideAtlas tracks here — and ranked them by total vertical. The result is a roster of climbs that punch above their mileage.
Montana ranges from the Northern Rockies' glacier-carved peaks (Glacier NP, Bob Marshall Wilderness) to the rolling Great Plains east of the divide. Granite Peak (the state high, 12,807 ft) and Glacier's Garden Wall traverse carry Montana's biggest vertical objectives. Grizzly bears (carry spray, know how to use it), unbridged stream crossings, and lightning on exposed ridges are the recurring concerns.
Our rankings here are data-driven — pulled from the 6,169 mapped entries OutsideAtlas tracks in Montana — but the data has limits worth being honest about. Elevation-gain figures depend on the surveyor and the digital-elevation model used. Some trails are missing this tag entirely and are excluded from the list. Treat numbers as approximate but directionally reliable.
The Ranking
Ranked from #1 to #7. Click through any entry for the full trail page — map, elevation profile, weather forecast, and direct OpenStreetMap source link.
#1. Ptarmigan Tunnel
Ptarmigan Tunnel leads the elevation rankings with 7,100 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 7,100 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Ptarmigan Tunnel trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#2. Blacktail Deer Creek Trail
Blacktail Deer Creek Trail comes in at #2 with 5,538 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 5,538 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Blacktail Deer Creek Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#3. Marco Flat Bridge
Marco Flat Bridge comes in at #3 with 3,268 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 3,268 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. It earns its ranking on the data, but trail conditions can change quickly after storms or fire seasons, so verify before you commit a full day. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Marco Flat Bridge trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#4. Blackfoot River Bridge
Blackfoot River Bridge comes in at #4 with 3,258 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 3,258 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Compared to similar trails in Montana, this route trades difficulty for either solitude or scenery — sometimes both. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Blackfoot River Bridge trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#5. Milk River Bridge
Milk River Bridge comes in at #5 with 2,224 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 2,224 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. What makes this one earn its spot on the list is the combination of mapped detail and the kind of through-and-through experience that justifies a longer drive. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Milk River Bridge trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#6. Lewis and Clark Bridge
Lewis and Clark Bridge comes in at #6 with 1,965 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 1,965 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. Local trail-association reports tend to agree this is one of the better-maintained options in the area, which matters more on a hike of this length than on a quick walk. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Lewis and Clark Bridge trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.#7. Purple Mountain Trail
Purple Mountain Trail comes in at #7 with 2 ft of climbing — the kind of gain that turns a 6-mile day into an honest workout. Expect 2 ft of gain on a forgiving grade. The route is well documented in OpenStreetMap, which is what put it on our radar — community-mapped routes tend to be the ones that get hiked enough to stay open. Climbing fitness — not raw mileage — is the gating factor. Trekking poles and an early start pay off. See full trail details, map, and current weather on OutsideAtlas for the most current information.
Open the Purple Mountain Trail trail page →Map, elevation profile, current weather, and OSM source.Planning your Montana trip
A few pieces of context are worth keeping in mind specifically for Montana. Late June through mid-September is the high-country window; afternoon thunderstorms and grizzly activity are routine. Grizzly bears (carry spray, know how to use it), unbridged stream crossings, and lightning on exposed ridges are the recurring concerns.
Always cross-reference the official land-manager page before driving out — closures, fire restrictions, and seasonal road access can change quickly. Our trail pages link directly back to the OpenStreetMap source so you can see the tags we're working from.
If you're new to hiking generally, our beginner's guide covers footwear, layering, and the day-pack basics. For safety planning on bigger objectives, the ten essentials guide is worth twenty minutes of reading.
More Montana hiking guides
If you found this useful, the rest of our Montana coverage continues below.
- Top 10 longest trails in Montana — Multi-day routes and through-hikes ranked by distance.
- Best beginner hikes in Montana — Easy, well-marked trails for first-time hikers.
- Most challenging hikes in Montana — Expert-rated routes for experienced hikers only.
- Best national parks in Montana — Federal parks and recreation areas ranked.
- Best waterfall hikes in Montana — Trails leading to named falls, ranked by accessibility.
- Best dog-friendly hikes in Montana — Where leashed dogs are explicitly welcome.
- Best family hikes in Montana — Short, easy trails sized for kids and grandparents.
Rankings like this are starting points, not verdicts. Trail conditions change, new routes get tagged, and what was the toughest trail in Montana last year might not be next year. We refresh these articles when the underlying data shifts meaningfully.
Got a correction, a route we missed, or a question? Drop us a note via the contact page. We read every email and we'd rather hear it from you than miss it.
