Montana offers endless opportunities for mountain bikers this fall

All summer long, single-file lines of mountain bikers make the exhilarating descent down Big Sky’s daunting terrain, skidding their tires and kicking up puffs of dirt as they go. Unfortunately, the season has now come to an end. This past Saturday was the closing day for Big Sky’s popular bike park.

The annual summer attraction offers efficient lift service to over 50 miles of trails, paid access to variable and exciting downhill terrain — all with no uphill pedaling required. Now that the park has shut down in preparation for ski season, many avid mountain bikers, especially newly enrolled college students who have grown fond of the bike park, may be left wondering: where should I go to get my mountain biking fix for the remainder of the season? 

Rest assured, there is no shortage of options.

Riders should feel encouraged to explore the wide variety of mountain biking trails near Bozeman. Although these trails lack the luxury of lift access, riders can learn to appreciate the intense cardio workout produced from pedaling their bikes uphill. The more exhausting the climb, the better the exercise and the more rewarding the descent.

Those looking for a more relaxed ride can take it easy on Triple Tree, a trail just southeast of town accessible by Sourdough Road. According to AllTrails, it is a 5.4 mile out-and-back, with a loop that begins at the 1.7 mile marker. I recommend going right at the fork as it offers a fairly easy climb with a fun and moderate descent. 

The Bridger mountain range also offers a variety of bike trails such as Middle Cottonwood, Sypes Canyon, and Truman's Gulch – to name a few. All of these trails make for thrilling rides and provide scenic vistas atop the Bridger foothills. Some of this terrain is quite rocky and perhaps more ideal for riders that prefer technical mountain biking. 

Leverich Canyon is about six miles south of campus at the end of South 3rd Avenue. According to AllTrails, the trail is a 4.9 mile loop with a 1,269 foot gain in elevation over the first 2.8 miles. This is followed by a 2.1 mile long and, in my experience, extremely quick and flowy descent.

A little further south, mountain bikers will find South Cottonwood — a lengthy and moderate ride that connects to the History Rock trail, transporting one from the outskirts of town to the inside of Hyalite Canyon. 

Those looking for more of a challenge can veer off the South Cottonwood trail and ride Wheeler Gulch. According to Collin Tuttle, contributor on mtbproject.com, the trail is a steep five mile climb from the fork at South Cottonwood. Consequently, the descent is equally as steep and Tuttle recommends using a bike with some suspension. 

Riders can also make the drive to Copper City, located in Three Forks, and explore a wide variety of mountain biking terrain. The trail network was built by the Southwest Montana Mountain Biking Association in partnership with the Bureau of Land Management’s Butte Field Office. According to their website, construction began in 2017 and was completed in 2019. The organization created around 17 miles of bike trails that range in difficulty from novice to advanced, all open for public access. 

Anyone solely focused on downhill and would thus prefer to conserve their energy and avoid any grueling uphill pedals can make the drive to other lift service bike parks in Montana. 

Discovery Bike Park is located about three hours northwest of Bozeman in Phillipsburg, MT. The park is a ski hill in the winter that also offers a bike park with lift service during bike season.  According to their website, skidiscovery.com, their bike park offers 5.3 miles of lift serviced terrain that remains open all the way through mid Oct.  

Those looking for a fun weekend trip can make the five hour haul up to Legacy Bike Park, located in Lakeside. According to legacybikepark.com, the bike park offers a variety of trails accessible by purchasing tickets for their road shuttle and also intends on staying open through mid October — weather permitting.

With these trails in mind, all mountain bikers ranging from hardcore adrenaline junkies to more cautious casuals can find the right terrain to satiate their needs as fall weather emerges and the snow keeps its distance for a little while longer.