With a name like Montana, Spanish for “mountain” or “mountainous,” you can rightly expect to see some beautiful mountains there.
Although mountains actually cover only the western third of the state, with some isolated ranges here and there elsewhere, the state has become synonymous with mountains in the minds of lovers of the outdoors.
Some of the best are to follow, and most of them are easy to appreciate from the road.
Chief Mountain, Glacier National Park
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The most spectacular mountains in Glacier could be a separate article topic. Chief Mountain is set apart from the main mass of the range, so it really stands out from wherever it’s seen. It also looks a bit more like something from the Southwest, adding to its distinctive appearance.
Mt. Wilbur, Glacier NP
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Wilbur isn’t the highest peak of the Many Glacier area, but it dominates the scene almost everywhere it’s visible. It’s easy to see from the decks of the Many Glacier Hotel above Swiftcurrent Lake, but perhaps the best view of it is from Iceberg Lake, where it rises up for 3000 sheer feet above the waters. That’ll require a 5-mile hike each way, but it’s one of the best hikes in the country.
Reynolds Peak, Glacier NP
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At Logan Pass on the Continental Divide, several rugged peaks command attention, but Reynolds is probably the most prominent of them. It resembles a glacial horn– a peak carved into steep sides all around by glaciers, though its gentler southwestern aspect, not visible from most roads and trails, keep it from geologically being a true horn.
Mt. Jackson, Glacier NP
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Viewed from Going-to-the-Sun Road at the Jackson Glacier Overlook, massive dome-shaped Jackson somewhat resembles the more famous Mt. Rainier. Glaciers cling to its sides, and you can get a close-up look at some of them by hiking 6 miles to Gunsight Lake and then taking a 1.5-mile spur to Jackson Glacier.
Flinsch Peak, Glacier NP
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Another classic horn-like peak, Flinsch is in the Two Medicine area of the park. Although it’s easy to spot from distant roads, it’s actually not visible from most Two Medicine trails. To see it, you’re going to have to hike the spectacular but long Pitamakan-Dawson Loop.
Old Baldy, Bob Marshall Wilderness
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From U.S. 89 north of Choteau, you’ll see two high, pointy peaks among the mountains to the west. The more northern one is twin-summited Old Baldy, and you can get closer to it by driving the Teton River Road. The trail to Route Creek Pass has good views of it near the pass but not from the pass itself. However, a clamber up the talus slopes to the north of the pass quickly yields a stunning view.
Rocky Mountain, Bob Marshall Wilderness
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The southern of those two pointy peaks is Rocky Mountain, and it’s the highest peak in the Bob Marshall Wilderness. For the best views of it without climbing a nearby peak, hike the 3 miles to Headquarters Creek Pass. The last mile or so of the hike has excellent views of the summit and its subpeaks and ridges.
Snowshoe Peak, Cabinet Mountains
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Located in the northwestern part of the state and stretching into the Idaho panhandle, the Cabinets are a semi-secret range beloved by people seeking the alpine without the busy roads and trails of the Glacier and Yellowstone regions. It’s nice enough from the road, but it’s more spectacular if you hike into the wilderness to Leigh Lake.
Trapper Peak, Bitterroot Range
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Trapper is the highest peak in Montana’s famous Bitterroots. The best roadside views of it are from a pullout near the small town of Darby. From there, its pointed summit truly seems to scrape the sky. You can also drive a long, winding road into the national forest to access a steep trail to its summit.
Crazy Peak, Crazy Mountains
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The Crazy Mountains are a high, isolated island range near Big Timber, and Crazy Peak, the highest in the range, is easily seen from a number of roads. Crazy Peak is also known as the most prominent peak in Montana. To mountain aficionados, that doesn’t mean it’s the most visually dominant but that it rises above its surroundings more than any other mountain in the state.
Republic Mountain, Absaroka Range
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This is not a major peak, and relatively few even know its name or where it is, but if you drive into Cooke City from the Beartooth Highway, you’ll immediately know why it’s on this list. Republic Mountain’s actual summit isn’t that noteworthy, but its pointed subpeak that juts from the main mass and looms over the town is. It helps make Cooke City one of the most scenic mountain towns in the country.
Granite Peak, Beartooth Range
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Granite Peak is the highest in Montana. If you learn its profile, you can spot it from roads and valleys north of it. Another good place to see it is from Clay Butte Lookout off the Beartooth Highway. But the best view is to make the long, steep hike into the wilderness to the ominously named Froze-to-Death Plateau, the approach most people attempting to climb it use.
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