Montana

Glacier National Park's Highline Trail offers dramatic alpine exposure, and the Beartooth Highway area opens another sweep of high-country hikes. Carry…

Glacier National Park's Highline Trail offers dramatic alpine exposure, and the Beartooth Highway area opens another sweep of high-country hikes. Carry accessible bear spray and know how to use it.

Why preparation matters in Montana

Montana hiking is big-country hiking. Alpine trails can climb into thin air, weather can turn from sun to snow with little warning, and trailheads may sit far from the nearest town or phone signal. That scale is exactly the appeal, but it rewards hikers who prepare like the mountains are in charge — because they are.

What to do, step by step

1. Pick a route that fits your fitness and altitude comfort, and check current trail and road conditions with the managing park or forest before you drive out.
2. Carry bear spray where it is recommended, keep it accessible on your hip or chest strap — not buried in your pack — and learn how to use it beforehand.
3. Start early. Afternoon thunderstorms build fast in high country, and you want to be heading down, not standing on an exposed ridge, when clouds gather.
4. Pack layers, rain gear, sun protection, a headlamp, and extra water and food. Tell someone your route and return time.
5. Give all wildlife a wide berth, store food properly, and make noise around blind corners so you never surprise an animal at close range.