Douglas Lorain 
100 Classic Hikes: Montana 
Glacier National Park, Western Mountain Ranges, Beartooth Range, Madison and Gallatin Ranges, Bob Marshall Wilderness, Eastern Prairies and Badlands

Jagged, glacier-clad peaks, sparkling cirque lakes, crystal-clear rivers, striking canyons, vast prairies and badlands—Montana is a hiker’s dream. And Douglas Lorain has hiked it corner to corner in 100 Classic Hikes: Montana to bring you this carefully selected collection of the state’s premier hikes—many of which have never appeared in any hiking guide. With outstanding scenery as the primary criteria, each richly rewarding hike offers the opportunity to see wildlife, old-growth forests, colorful wildflowers, brilliant fall colors, spectacular vistas, or fascinating geologic features.

Explore the shady forests of the Cabinet Mountains in the northwest, the world-famous wilderness of Glacier National Park, the incredible variety of trails that wind through the dramatic Bitterroots, the undiscovered gems of the Beaverhead Mountains, or the surprisingly varied landscapes of rolling grasslands, wildlife-rich marshes, and deep canyons in the eastern part of the state.

Whether you’re looking for an easy Saturday afternoon jaunt with the family, a memorable day hike to a Big Sky summit, or an epic backpacking trip, you’ll find the best of the best in this guide. Features include:


Full-color photos and maps
Routes ranging from short day hikes to challenging multiday backcountry trips
“Hikes at a Glance” chart for easy trip selection
Detailed route descriptions including distance, difficulty, hiking time, elevation gain, best season, trailhead GPS coordinates, and more
Recommendations for extending your hike

About the author

DOUGLAS LORAIN’S family moved to Oregon when he was six years old, and he’s lived there ever since. Now a tax accountant living in Portland, he’s explored every nook, cranny, and corner of his home state over the last few decades. All told he’s logged over 16, 000 hiking miles in Oregon. In an average year, he spends 150 to 200 days on the trail and hikes between 1500 and 2000 miles, most of it in Oregon. In 1988 he wrote his first book, Backpacking Oregon for Wilderness Press. It was followed by Backpacking Washington, Afoot & Afield — Portland/Vancouver, and Backpacking Idaho. His photographs have been featured in scenic photography books such as Discovering Oregon and Volcano–Mount St. Helens, as well as numerous scenic calendars for Oregon, Washington, Montana, Nevada, Wyoming, and Idaho; they have also been published in magazines such as Oregon Outside.