Explore Montana’s Bears Paw Mountains

I can’t believe it took me this long to discover and explore the Bears Paw Mountains, outside Havre, Montana!  

First, “Bears Paw” is the official spelling, without an apostrophe, and plural on “bears” but singular on “paw.”

In a state full of gorgeous scenery, the Bears Paw Mountains are one of the most underrated destinations.  They’re a smaller mountain range (by Montana standards) and rise from the prairie 20 miles south of Havre.

If you’re road-tripping through Northern or Central Montana or looking for a scenic day trip from Great Falls, put the Bears Paw Mountains on your list.

While parts of Montana, like the iconic Glacier National Park, are very crowded these days, you’ll find peace and quiet, plus great hikes and fishing in this much calmer part of Big Sky Country.

Key Info on the Bears Paw

• The mountains are 15 miles south of Havre.
• From Great Falls, it’s a 2-hour drive northeast.
• It’s home to the biggest county park in the USA!
• The highest point is Baldy Mountain: 6,916 feet in elevation.
• The mountains feature grasslands, pine and aspen groves, plus volcanic rock formations.

Havre Hiking Trails

Here are a few hikes around Havre, several of which I’ll detail in following sections:

Mt. Otis Trail

• 2 miles
• South of Havre, off Highway 234 on Mooney Coulee Rd.
• More challenging trail with summit views and wildflowers

Rotary Canyon Loop (Lower)

• 1 mile, easy hike
• Trailhead at Bearpaw Lake, south of Havre

Rotary Canyon Loop (Upper)

• 2.4  mile hike, southeast of Havre

Bear Paw Nature Trail

• 3–5.7 mile hike
• Off Highway 234, south of Havre
• Trail follows an old army road, from the Fort Assiniboine days

Bullhook Butte Loop

• 1.6 mile, moderate hike

Bill Baltrusch Nature Trail

• 0.7–2.6 mile easy walk
• On the eastern side of town (paved in sections)

Beaver Creek Park

Beaver Creek Park is the largest county park in the United States. 

It’s huge, and is full of hiking, fishing, and camping opportunities!

• It stretches 17 miles long and a mile wide.
• There are 10,000 acres of public land.
• Established: 1916, after Fort Assinniboine was decommissioned.
• It’s managed by Hill County, but self-funded through park permits and grazing leases.

Scenic Beauty & Wildlife

Beaver Creek Park is incredibly diverse, with grassy meadows, pine-aspen forests, rocky cliffs, and creeks running through the valleys.

It’s home to a wide variety of wildlife, including deer, elk, antelope, beavers, bobcats, coyotes, hawks, and owls.

Hiking & Trails

Beaver Creek Park features several trails for hiking and horseback riding:

• Bear Paw Nature Trail: A 3.5-mile interpretive loop with GPS-marked signs explaining the area’s natural and historical features.
• Mount Otis Trail: About 1.9 miles to the summit with panoramic views of the Bears Paw Mountains.
• Rotary Canyon Loop: Two loop options will lead you through meadows of seasonal wildflowers above Bears Paw Lake.

There are also disc golf courses and designated areas for stargazing under Montana’s famous “dark skies.”

Camping & Fishing

Beaver Creek Park is home to more than 100 campsites, available on a “first-come, first-served” basis.  Campers will find quiet sites nestled among trees or near lakes.

Other, more developed sites, like Camp Kiwanis, can accommodate large groups and events.

Fishing is excellent here, with two stocked lakes: Beaver Creek Reservoir and Bears Paw Lake.  They’re close to each other, and you can catch trout, pike, bass, and walleye.

You can also fish for trout in parts of Beaver Creek itself, which meanders through the area.

Park Permits & Visitor Info

A Park Use Permit is required for nearly all activities: hiking, camping, fishing, and picnicking.

• Day Permit: $15 (valid until noon the next day)
• Annual Permit: $95

Permits are available online, at the park office, or at various businesses in Havre.

Seasons in the Park

While summer is the best time to visit, Beaver Creek Park is open year-round.  In the winter, people use it for snowshoeing, sledding, cross-country skiing, and ice fishing.

Bearpaw Lake

While Bearpaw Lake is included in Beaver Creek Park, I wanted to give it its own section.

If you can get there during wildflower season (June into early July), the hiking is amazing!  The Rotary Canyon Trailhead will lead you to meadows covered in bright flowers.

There are two trail options:

• The Upper Loop:  2.4 miles
• The Lower Loop:  1 mile

They’re both moderate-to-easy and suitable for all hikers.

You can camp lakeside, and fish here, too.  As I mentioned above, Bears Paw Lake is stocked with trout, bass, walleye, and pike.

It’s amazing how few people you’ll see along the way!  On a beautiful July afternoon, we only saw one other vehicle, and one person camping lakeside.

Remember: you do need a day-use permit to visit any part of Beaver Creek Park.

Bullhook Butte Hiking Area

Bullhook Butte is a great spot to hike, a few miles outside of Havre.  

It’s private land, which the owners have agreed to share with the public.

You’ll find a small parking lot, and a well-marked trail to follow.  It runs about 1.8 miles in a loop around the hillsides. They’re a mix of grassland and rugged rock formations.

Dogs are welcome on leashes.

Why Are They Called the Bears Paw Mountains?

From above, I thought the name “Bears Paw” must have come from the shape of the mountains.  Their outline of the valleys and ridges resembles the claws or pads of a bear’s paw.

Others say the name actually comes from a Native American legend involving a bear and a hunter.

According to the legend, a bear was chasing a tribe across the plains.  After a hunter shot the bear, its giant paw landed with a thud, leaving an imprint on the land.

Nearby Restaurants & More

Havre is a short drive from the Bears Paw Mountains.

If you’re looking for historic sites to check out, you’ll find:

• Havre Beneath the Streets (a tour through passageways of old underground businesses)
• Wahkpa Chu’gn Buffalo Jump
• Fort Assinniboine
• H. Earl Clack Museum

While Great Falls has dozens of restaurants, Havre has several great options, too:

• Wild Fig (wine and small plates)
• Bow & Marrow (modern steakhouse)
• Triple Dog Brewing Co.

On My Next Trip to Havre…

I plan to head there in winter to check out one of the most unique ski mountains in the country!

Bear Paw Ski Bowl is operated by a group of local volunteers, which is pretty incredible.

Plus, lift tickets are only $25. Talk about an “Only in Montana” situation!