4000 feet, summit is at 7100'

Mt Marston is a fire lookout with dirt road access (road 900) which climbs 4000' over 14 miles. From the summit, 3 seperate single track trails lead to the bottom. Trail 98, the Laughing Water Creek Trail, is 5.5 miles in length. This trail is National Recreation Trail and is usually in good shape.

Trail 361 (Mt Marston Recreation Trail), would be a full day hike up and down and offers great views of Glacier National Park, Dickey Lake, and the Tobacco Valley. This trail is usually maintained a little later in summer and is good hike or ride in mid July or later.

Trail 860, the Patrick Ridge Trail, is the furthest south of the trails and is less vegetated crossing larger rock falls and offers unique views of the Stryker area. This trail is often one of the earlier sub-alpine trails free of snow in the spring. This trail is 7.5 miles, but several miles are spent on the ridge top making it the most difficult of the trails. Having biked this one, I wouldn't recommend it to anyone if they do not have good suspension and riding skills.

The views are the true highlight. The upper halves of the Marston trails all have spectacular views of the Tobacco Valley and the view from the summit on a clear day is spectacular.

Also, if you hike any of these trails they all end up at different parts of Dickey Lake, which has crystal clear emerald waters and public access. I can't say on a hot day how much I've thought about getting to the bottom of the trail and jumping in the lake!

When the bear grass is in bloom there is a lot in this area and it is truly spectacular..

The Marston trails are usually not too busy. Recreation clubs and the Forest Service seem to split duty on maintaining the trails here. I've passed maybe one or two other hikers in 10 years of hiking and biking these trails.

Trail 860, the Patrick Ridge Trail, is by far the most dangerous of the trails. I would feel safe as a hiker on any of the trails. The Patrick Ridge though for mountain bikers has few sections that could lead to serious injury if wiped out.

Trails 98 and 361 mostly travel through fairly dense forest with localized areas of heavier moisture. The lower part of trail 98 travels along one south-facing ridge and has beautiful old-growth tamaracks, a true pleaser in fall.

Trail 860 initally at the summit follows the ridgeline, but as you descend it is gets into more barren areas of old rock and lava flows.

Also, 5 miles past Stryker where road 900 is located is the Murphy Lake Ranger station. If you have time I recommend checking in at the station. Each year they clear the trails at different times and unless you don't mind hiking or biking over lot of down trees a quick stop in can get you on the cleanest trail. They can help with any driving directions and road information with regards to road 900.

5.5 to 7.5 miles, fire road to the summit is 14.5 miles from hwy 93

Multiple Trailheads

Better part of a full day.

Starting from Whitefish, Montana, drive north on Hwy 93 for 26.7 miles Just before Stryker, look for fire road 900 on the right. Follow road 900 for 14 miles to the Mt Marston Lookout. Approximately a mile or two up road 900 there will be one fork where you will want to stay left. The forest service takes good care of the road since it is a fire lookout road, and signs are on most the forks. A two wheel drive car with good clearance can make it up, and four wheel drive vehicle won't have any problems. I've made it up in my 2 wheel drive compact Kia, but scraped bottom a time or two.

I've shuttled this one with friends many times, driving the bikes up and finishing at Dickey Lake for a swim and afternoon meal on the lake. If you are going to bike up fire road 900 and down one of the trails you'll be doing over 5000 feet of climbing so be ready for a long day and bring plenty of water and supplies, it's a real grinder.