Looking for an early season hike? Head to the Pryors and check out Cave Ridge. As long as the roads are dry, it isn't hard to get to - just a bit south of Billings - and is great spring hiking.

Photo by John Boehmke

Far from Helena, and even farther from D.C., the iconic dome-shaped Capitol Rock in eastern Montana is a great place to catch a summer sunset.

Just east of Great Falls, the Highwood Mountains make for a great weekend destination. This trail brings you up to Prospect Peak, where you'll have views of the entire range. Spring is a great time to go, when the newly leafed aspens, green grasses, and wildflowers add interest along the way.

Photo by Dexter Hale

Ready? Set? Go! It's time for an eastern Montana adventure. This ridge hike in the Pryor Mountains, just south of Billings, will certainly be a highlight of your spring adventures. You'll be looking down into beautiful Bear Canyon, and you'll be looking across the full expanse of the Pryors, covered in sagebrush, colorful wildflowers, and a bit of snow still on its highest peaks.

Photo by John Boehmke

Right now, Montana's highest peaks are still covered in snow, but that doesn't mean you have to wait to get up high. Cyclone Lookout in the Whitefish Range, just west of Glacier National Park, is always one of the earlier lookouts to melt out. From the top, enjoy views across the North Fork valley to the full panorama of Glacier's still-snowy peaks.

Photo by Steven Gnam

Castle Rock is a rocky fortress on the spine of the Blue Joint Wilderness Study Area. Just south of Hamilton, it's easy to access from Missoula or the Big Hole. This short trail ends with a rocky scramble, making it fun for kids, too.

Photo by Zack Porter

You don't have to go to Italy to get a taste of the Dolomites. Just head south of Dillon and west into the Italian Peaks. Go for a day trip, or bring your tent camp in the meadows below the jagged mountain tops.

Spring is the perfect time for a road trip. While you're waiting for the western mountains to thaw out, eastern Montana is in its prime. Be sure your itinerary includes the Chalk Buttes, an aptly-named rocky high point just south of Ekalaka.

Just a stone's throw from Canada, Mount Brown is a high point in the Sweetgrass Hills along the Hi-Line. Go in spring, when the lush green prairie grasses, colorful wildflowers, and sharp tailed grouse are on full display.

Photo byJanice Hendrickson

The Pryor Mountains - not far from Billings - are home to Montana's only true desert, yet also home to a stunning array of plants and animals. Upper Layout Creek is a short hike to a year-round spring surrounded by a giant mound of green moss and lush tree cover, making for a surprising oases in this generally dry range.

Photo by Raymond Masters