Doris Mountain via Doris Ridge Trail is a 6.2 mile lightly trafficked out and back trail located near Kalispell, Montana that features a lake and is rated as moderate. The trail is primarily used for hiking and is best used from May until September. Dogs are also able to use this trail.
NOTE: If using a GPS to reach this trailhead, please note that due to a difference in road databases, the GPS may not take you directly to the trailhead. Please verify your directions before visiting. Users have reported that the road leading to the trailhead may be difficult in a 2WD vehicle. 4WD with ground clearance is recommended. Doris Ridge Trail descends down into a low area before gradually ascending up past a few small lakes and a campsite. Turn right at the T intersection and climb up into the mountain range. Take a left onto trail Alpine trail and then a left at the next junction to go up to Doris Mountain. Great views at top and a few spots along the way.
Turn on Aurora Basin Road #895h. The road going to the trailhead is definitely more suitable for AWD, 2WD may be possible but you’ll need to go slow. It takes about 45 minutes to get up to the trailhead once you turn on the basin road. The actual trail is #52 and turns into alpine trail #7 when going up to the mountain.
Great views and a really peaceful hike. Great place to escape the crowds of Glacier.
Take right into Aurora Basin road and follow to end about 11.7 miles, Parking for half dozen cars at end of road, overflow 1/10 mile before end. Easy to follow trail down left at first fork. 1.1 miles cross stream. 1 4 miles lake on right, muddy not worth the stop. 1 5 miles take left toward Doris Lake. This is a lovely lake and a nice place to throw a stick for the dog. Nice camp down the path. With the lake in front of you, head right up the ridge. 1/2 mile from peak head right to join Alpine Trail #7, then left up to the peak. 360 view is awesome!
This was a very beautiful hike. It is quite root-y the initial .5 mile. The hike to the lake itself is more easy/moderate. Lots of meadows between the trail head and the lake. The hike to the ridge is moderate and narrow in many places. The wildflowers were absolutely stunning and the views once at the top were magnificent and worth the last .25 mile of steep terrain. You get a complete 360 degree view of the entire valley and beyond. The road to the trailhead is rough and best taken in a SUV all wheel drive or 4WD. The road is also narrow about half way up and only one lane. Plan for at least an hour from the turn off to the trailhead. Not a lot of people. Will do this hike again!
Hiked 8/2/20, just me and my pup. Started around 6pm and finished about 8:45. Only saw two other people. Super beautiful flowers, gorgeous in the evening light. The actual trail is pretty straightforward, once you get up the turn to go up to the top of the mountain is clear. ROAD DIRECTIONS: the AllTrails directions take you to the wrong turn off; you want to turn on Aurora Basin Road #895h which is before the Alltrails directions say. The road going to the trailhead is definitely more suitable for AWD, 2WD may be possible but you’ll need to go slow. It takes about 45 minutes to get up to the trailhead once you turn on the basin road. The actual trail is #52 and turns into alpine trail #7 when going up to the mountain.
8/1/20 Fun trail! The drive up is totally doable but it is pretty rocky and steep much of the way up. The hike is in great shape and we saw few people on our way up. I definitely recommend googling the trail to make sure you are taking all the right turns on the way up. TONS of bugs....and tons of wildflowers. Overall a really great hike and view.
In my opinion not worth the hour gravel drive up the mountain. Lots of mosquitos we only hiked to the lake and back which was around 3.7 mile.
This has a good description of how to get to the trailhead. https://crownofthecontinent.net/entries/doris-ridge-trail-52-hungry-horse-montana/98698e1e-011c-4bc7-9430-770cdc4203d2 I was fine getting up and down the road in my Outback but it is very rocky and steep at times. Plan at least 45 minutes from the turn onto Doris Ridge Rd to the trailhead, it takes a while to get up. The worst part of the road is the last 600 feet to the trailhead but there is a large open area right before it that is a good place to park if you want to avoid that part of the road. Really fun hike!
Ignore previous reviews- the road is just fine. I maybe wouldn’t drive my corvette, but for any regular car it’s totally doable. We went up today with our 3 year old (my husband packed her) and 6 week old. There was a six-ish year old girl at the summit. Great trail for kids! Awesome views, well maintained.
Caution! Caution! I can't believe no one has mentioned that you REALLY need at least a truck to get up to this trail. It's by the grace of God that my rental (a Ford Fiesta) made it up and down without any serious damage or at least a flat tire. Very rocky uneven terrain. The trail itself was awesome with amazing views! However I wouldn't dare do this again without a truck. Good luck!
I really enjoyed this trail! Spectacular views from the summit. Great afternoon or half day outing.
June 21, 2020. The 12 mile road to the parking loop is clear. The parking loop is full of snow, so you must park near the clearing just before. You can get to the trailhead by walking through the parking area, on top of the icy slushy snow. Today, you can only hike in about ONE mile before the snow/snowmelt make the trail impassable. Water was a couple of feet deep everywhere. Maybe if you have fishing waders you could keep going. We will need at least a couple weeks of warm weather in order to get further.
May 10, 2020. About 3 miles up the road to the trailhead, the road is shady and covered in impassible slick, icy slush, which is a couple/few feet deep. We had 4x4 Tahoe, but no snow tires/chains, and had to dig out with a shovel. We need some considerably warm sunny days for this to melt off! Can't wait to complete this trail!
The road going up is mostly a 4x4 Road, we saw multiple people in off road vehicles just driving the road. So keep that in mind, but our Lexus suv has no issues. We hiked to the larger lake and back (Go right at the fork at 1.5 miles). Even though it’s only slightly over 3 miles roundtrip, you have nearly 900 feet of elevation gain throughout that, so it still is a very moderate hike. Some parts are graded fairly steeply, so it’s a good workout. Bugs were fairly bad, even with bug spray. The lakes are nice, but not spectacular. The huge array of wildflowers was the highlight of this trip. No wildlife seen. Only a few people on the trail, so very peaceful.
Great out and back hike; about a mile and a half in the trail forks...left takes you to the mountain top, right takes you to a serene lake - it’s a nice short option if you have little ones with you. There are a few small water crossings - only a few inches deep in late July - quite easy to cross.
If you are looking for solitude in the mountains, this hike is for you! Only saw one other couple the whole hike. Starts with a decent descent and then you slowly gain elevation as you make your way from the valley to the top of the mountain. A couple stream/creek crossings that are very managable. Go left at both of the forks in the trail and you’ll be good to go. No bugs, beautiful wildflowers along the way and it’s so green right now! A perfect moderate hike with a stunning 360 summit.