Bear Creek Overlook – The Best View near Missoula
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Bear Creek Overlook is the most beautiful overlook we’ve seen.
It’s EPIC.
We were blown away by this hike and everything it has to offer: beautiful forest, stunning views, and adventure galore.
It’s an incredible must-see view if you’re near the Bitterroot Mountains.
And at only 4.5 miles round-trip, you don’t even have to work THAT hard.
Sur,e the 1,154 feet in elevation gain may take your breath away, but so will the view at the end. Plus, long switchbacks make the elevation gain much more manageable.
Ready to go hiking yet?
Specs
- All Trails Distance: 4.5 miles (out-and-back)
- Strava Measured Distance: 4.96
- Elevation Gain: 1,154 ft.
- Difficulty: Moderate
- Bathroom at Trailhead?: No
- Cell Service?: Yes (AT&T)
- 4×4 Required?: No
What to Pack for Hiking in Montana
Montana weather loves surprises—sunny one minute, hail the next. Here are the must-have items we never hit the trail without:
- A rain jacket – Afternoon thunderstorms are basically a guarantee. The Patagonia Torrentshell 3L is lightweight, packable, and actually waterproof.
- Actual hiking boots or trail runners – Hiking boots are awesome for support and waterproofing, but we love the lightweight breathability of trail runners on long hikes. Whatever you do, just PLEASE don’t wear regular sneakers—your feet will hate you.
- Hiking pants (NOT jeans) – Montana trails are full of scree, mud, and surprise rain. Hiking pants are durable, quick‑drying, and far better than denim (looking at you, Texans).
- Layers, layers, layers – Temps swing fast at high elevation. Pair a breathable Capilene® Cool Daily Shirt with a warm Nano Puff Jacket and you’ll have everything you need.
- Trekking poles – Save your knees on steep climbs and give yourself extra balance on rocky sections. These ones from REI are super durable, lightweight, and WAY better than that crap on Amazon.
- Plenty of water – Dehydration sneaks up quickly at high altitude. We love our Osprey Daylite Pack. It’s perfect size to fit a couple layers, and everything you need for a day on trail
- Snacks with actual calories – Trail mix, jerky, or bars—don’t underestimate how much energy hiking at 10,000 ft burns.
- Sun protection – A hat + sunglasses + high‑SPF sunscreen will keep you protected.
- Navigation tools – Download offline maps with AllTrails or carry a GPS device like the Garmin inReach Mini 2.
- First aid kit – Even a small one saves the day for blisters, scrapes, or altitude headaches.
Montana hikes are incredible—but only if you’re prepared. Trust us, a good rain jacket (and pants that aren’t denim) have saved us more times than we can count!
Getting There
Bear Creek Overlook Trail is located in the Bitterroot Mountains (called “The Bitterroots” by locals) about an hour south of Missoula.
Take US-93 south to the small town of Victor. Then turn right on 5th Avenue, which is the downtown district. Turn left on Pleasant View Drive / Dineen Hill Road and you’ll follow that to Gash Creek Road.
Gash Creek Road is a dirt road that winds up to the trailhead. It’s in great shape, so we don’t think you need 4×4 or AWD. But lower clearance vehicles should drive slower and pay attention for any obstacles.
The trailhead parking area is quite small, so get there early or go on a weekday. Park where you can and start up the dirt path that goes straight uphill.
The Trail
Here’s a play-by-play of the Bear Creek Overlook Trail so you know what to expect on your adventure.
The First Split
There’s a split in the trail within the first 10 yards of the trailhead. GO LEFT.
Cutting switchbacks is bad for a lot of reasons (see Leave No Trace). The trail to the right is a switchback cut. So go left.
Switchbacks
The theme of this hike is switchbacks. Switchbacks, switchbacks, and more switchbacks.
The trail is almost completely switchbacks as you can see on the screenshot below from Onx Maps (by the way, we HIGHLY recommend On-X Backcountry and AllTrails for hiking, along with these other outdoorsy apps).
But we LOVE ourselves a good switchback. It makes the elevation feel way more manageable. We felt as if we were flying uphill despite over 1,000 feet of elevation gain on this trail.
The trail winds through beautiful pine forests the whole way up. So there’s no shortage of trees, wildlife, flowers, and adventure.
The Overlook
You’re almost there once the trail starts to level out. The switchbacks end, and it’s a straight shot to the overlook.
The trees will start to thin. Then you’ll come around the corner and into full view of the overlook.
And WOW!
The view is AMAZING!
You’re looking straight into the heart of the Bitterroot Mountains and Bear Creek Valley. Straight ahead is Idaho, and multiple alpine lakes are tucked into the bowls across the valley.
The overlook itself is on a very steep rock outcropping. There are no railings, so please stay back from the edge. You can get an idea of the cliff you’re standing on by looking at the rock wall to your right.
We sat here for a while and enjoyed a snack before snapping a few pictures and heading back downhill.
Looking for other hikes in the area? Check out our lists of the Best Hikes Near Missoula and the Best Waterfalls in Western Montana!
Pro Tips
- Because of the steep drop from the overlook, we do not recommend bringing children or dogs on this hike.
- Make sure you have all the day hiking essentials.
- Bring a snack to enjoy at the overlook and lots of water to drink along the way.
