Golden Trout Lake, Gallatin Gateway

Elevation Gain: ~1,200 ft

Length: ~ 4.5 miles Round Trip

Difficulty: Easy

Time: VARIES

Note(s): 

• Went in early July and got absolutely murdered by bugs

• We saw Golden Trout near the inlet!

• Road in is TERRIBLE- highly recommend a high clearance / 4-wheel drive vehicle

Bridgers, Bozeman

Elevation Gain: ~1500 ft (does not include down to the lake)

Length: ~3 mile RT (this is only to the lookout- add more mileage to go down to the lake)

Difficulty: Medium

Time: VARIES

Note(s): 

• dries up by mid july- visit in the spring if you can! 

• no official trail down to the lake, but worth the voyage

• mtn goat homies were chillin w/ me at the top viewpoint 

Gallatin Gateway, Montana

Elevation Gain: ~2,800 ft

Length: 7.7 mile RT

Difficulty: Medium

Time: VARIES

Note(s): 

• writeup about it in my backpacking section ;) 

• pack in yo water for yourself and those pups kiddos 

Bridgers, Bozeman

Elevation Gain: ~2000 ft

Length: ~ 5 miles Round Trip

Difficulty: Medium

Time: ~3.5 hours 

Note(s): 

• Mtn goat homies vibe at the top of this one

• Was kinda hard to find the trail start NGL

Bear Trap, Big Sky

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

Bear Basin, Big Sky

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)

Sypes Canyon, Bozeman

Elevation Gain: up to ~1600 ft 

Length: up to ~6 miles round trip

Difficulty: Easy

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: a mama and cub was spotted by fellow hikers we shared the trail with

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 

Drinking Horse, Bozeman

Elevation Gain: 700 feet 

Length: 2.2 mile roundtrip

Difficulty: Easy

Time: ~2 hours round trip at the most 

Note(s):

• Across the street from the M, could def do both in the same day. 

• Good view potential for both sunrise and sunset views! 

• COOL bridge at the start of the trail

Note(s): 

• The shorter 1/2 mile tour is a fantastic accessible option with access to see the biggest Cavern Room

• Montana's 1st State Park!

•  $15 guided tour w/ $8 parking

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