Bear Basin

Elevation Gain: ~2060 ft

Length: 6 miles one way

Difficulty: Medium

Time: ~2.5 hours

Note(s): 

• Not particularly steep until you go up to the pass to check out the Alpine lakes

• Killer backpacking spot (writeup about it in the backpacking section)

Bear Canyon

Elevation Gain: varies, pretty minimal- only a few switchbacks, but other than that it's relatively flat

Length: 5 mile roundtrip to first meadow, but the trail continues longer & can link into other forest service trails

Difficulty: Easy

Time: Varies #chooseyourownadventure

Note(s):

• A lot of ppl do back country laps at the old ski hill here at the start of the trail in the winter!

• In the summer there are quite a few cool climbing routes not too far down the trail. 

South Cottonwood

Elevation Gain: up to ~900 ft

Length: up to  12 mi RT

Difficulty: Easy/Med

Time: Varies

Note(s): 

• A common turn around spot is before the Langhor Trail / Wheeler Gulch intersection (4.5mi RT)

• Pretty busy trail 

• Every time I've hiked this trail I thought it would be a dreamy trail run spot so I'm hoping to give it a lil run post acl recovery!

Triple Tree

Elevation Gain: up to ~960 ft 

Length: up to ~5.4 miles round trip

Difficulty: Easy/Med

Time: 2-3 hrs 

Note(s): 

• Lot of mountain bikers! 

• Sunset is such a vibe

• Mtn Lion, Moose, & Black Bear have been spotted on this trail, but I've only ever seen some deer & pheasants

• There is an off beaten path from the trail to a large field with three actual large trees, but I haven't treked it yet. 

• Great fall leaves and spring flowers spot!

The "M", Bozeman

Elevation Gain: 850 feet 

Length: Varies up to ~2 mile round trip 

Difficulty: Varies Easy/Med 

Time: ~2 hours round trip at the most 

Note(s): 

• Great for sunsets! 

• Multiple ways up the trail & I've gone all the different ways- STEEP TRAIL IS STEEP 

• Start of the trail for Baldy- you just keep hiking up past the "M"

• Wildflower season here is unmatched, but the trail is pretty doable all year round.

Johnson Canyon

Elevation Gain: up to ~1600 ft 

Length: up to ~9 miles out & back to where the jeep trail ends. Can def link up to other trails here as well.

Difficulty: Easy

Time: VARIES

Note(s): 

• Always such a quiet trail. If I want to get away from people, but still be near town this is my go to. 

• My boss said he enjoys mtn biking here- mainly because there aren't a lot of ppl. 

Pomp Peak

Elevation Gain: ~2000 ft

Length: ~ 5 miles Round Trip

Difficulty: Medium

Time: ~3.5 hours 

Note(s): 

• Same trails as Sac, but instead of heading left once you're up the saddle you will turn right!

• Way less ppl over on this peak!!

• Definitely more scrambly than Sac tho. 

Sypes Canyon

Elevation Gain: up to ~1600 ft 

Length: up to ~6 miles round trip

Difficulty: Medium

Time: VARIES

Note(s): 

• Pretty designated path up to the first ridge lookout & then a lot of variable pathways to choose! 

• Even though its in town I'd still bring bear spray! I've seen a black bear here & had an eerie run in with an animal following me.

• Always good for leaves & flowers & sunsets. Honestly might be my fav trail near town.  

Blackmore Peak

Elevation Gain: ~3700 ft

Length: ~ 12.5 Miles RT

Difficulty: Hard

Time: 5 hrs give or take idk

Note(s): 

• An absolutely stunning hike and view my goodness. 

• It's insane to me places like these are so close to where I live. One of the best hikes in Bozeman!!!!

Palisade Falls 

Elevation Gain: ~250 ft

Length: ~ 1.1 Miles RT

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 1 hr max

Note(s): 

• One of my fav quick adventures near town. 

• Trail is mostly paved! It's a bit cracked towards the falls. 

• During the winter the turn off road is closed, but from the lower parking lot its about 3 mi round trip. 

Maud S Canyon

Elevation Gain: ~1000 - 2000ft

Length: ~ 4 mi loop or 7 mi RT up to ridge line

Difficulty: Med

Time: VARIES

Note(s): 

• I went up the 5185 Trail & down the 5186 trail. The few ppl I saw were going the opposite way, but I quite enjoyed the route I took.

• Trail was hecka dry when the rest of Boze was mud. It is a great early season hike. The loop was in the sun the whole time, but up to the ridge line was a bit more shady. 

• View of the Lady of the Rockies & The Berkeley Pit. The Pit is Butte's superfund toxic lake that once was an open pit copper mine. 

Note(s): 

• Views the entire hike up, but this also means you are in the sun the whole way up too- so wear your sunscreen kiddos!!!

• Variety of look off spots at the top 

• Sick natural arch to check out 

• A lot of trail runners & dogs off leash 

Headwaters Loop

Elevation Gain: minimal

Length: ~ 2.7 Miles RT

Difficulty: Easy

Time: 1-2 hrs

Note(s): 

• Was a great trail for early spring because it was dry.

• All trails says the loop is under 2 miles, but i tracked it via gps so be more so idk man maybe we took a weird way. 

• Kevins first hike!! (I think) 

Bear Trap Canyon

Elevation Gain: Very Minimal

Length: Up to 14 miles Round Trip

• 7 miles  one way to the dam 

• 3.5 miles one way to the creek

Difficulty: Easy

Time: Varies

Note(s): 

• Rattlesnakes & poison ivy known to be in the area 

• Ton of campsites & fishing spots for people to check out

Pine Creek Falls

Elevation Gain: ~390 ft

Length: 2.5 mi Out & Back

Difficulty: Easy

Time: ~1 hour 

Note(s): 

• Saw it recommended on the board at REI

• Really chill falls & trail! Great I'm bored lets go do a quick hike trail. 

Morrell Falls

Elevation Gain: ~456 ft

Length: 5.5 mi Out & Back

Difficulty: Easy

Time: ~2 hour 

Note(s): 

• The trail is literally so flat the whole way 

• Goes by a couple ponds so I feel like bug season here would be TERRIBLE 

• Dope falls water was pretty chill