Bozeman area offers variety of terrain for uphill skiers

Chairlifts are a luxury that many skiers and snowboarders depend on whenever they’re looking to ascend a hill and ride down some snow. However, many locals opt for an alternative — and far more demanding — solution as the Bozeman area has no shortage of compelling backcountry skiing locales.

Backcountry skiing is a blanket term used to describe any skiing that occurs outside the jurisdiction of a ski-area boundary. These areas are not surveilled by Ski Patrol and typically receive little to no chair lift access — although some backcountry terrain can be accessed via gates at ski area boundaries. 

Therefore, backcountry skiing can range from extravagant helicopter tours in Alaska to a brief run up and down the collegial “M.” Many people believe backcountry skiing must involve perilous mountaineering and epic topography, but there is mellow backcountry skiing available in our backyard.

All the areas about to be discussed involve uphill navigation, or ski touring. This will require the appropriate equipment, including specific boots, bindings and skins.

Moreover, because backcountry terrain receives no ski patrol supervision, anyone taking part must be equipped with the proper avalanche rescue tools and avalanche safety education. More information on this can be found on mtavalanche.com.

Perhaps the most easily accessible option for uphill enthusiasts, the old Bear Canyon Ski Area is about eight miles from downtown Bozeman and makes for a fun early morning workout. According to Strava — an app used to track exercise — the standard east route involves a 600-foot gain in elevation over about 0.6 miles. The fastest trail down runs parallel to the ski area's T-bar lift, which is only occasionally run and operated by and for the Mount Ellis Academy, according to its website.

Nearby, those looking for a longer excursion can tour up Mount Ellis. According to an article published on Outside Bozeman during the 2017-2018 winter season, the adventure can take anywhere from two to four hours, wherein the skier gains 2,940 feet over four miles. The descent involves nearly 2,000 vertical feet of skiable terrain.

In Hyalite Canyon, the History Rock Trail offers some easygoing meadows with pretty low-risk skiing. According to AllTrails, it’s about three miles from the trailhead to the summit. Bozemanskiguide.com states that there are three skiable meadows, each varying in elevation and offering 200 to 400 vertical feet of skiing. History Rock is a great option for someone looking to explore nature and ski mellower terrain.

Hyalite Canyon is also home to the popular Mount Blackmore, the ten-thousand-foot behemoth that offers some exciting high-intensity skiing. According to an article published on Outside Bozeman, the approach is about 4.5 miles long and involves around 3,000 feet in vertical gain. The ascent takes some time, beginning with a mild incline but progressing into steep switchbacks. Once completed, the payoff is huge, as the skier can descend 700 vertical feet of skiing, where they can pick from a variety of different routes.

These are just a small handful of backcountry skiing options in the Bozeman area. Whether one is simply meadow hopping for the afternoon or taking on a grueling day-long adventure, the chairlifts can collect dust while some of us get a workout in.