Ousel Falls is worth the drive

Though the Bozeman area has some beautiful sights, opportunities to get outside await in all parts of the Gallatin County. Ousel Falls trail is a great option for students looking for their next outdoor adventure.

The Ousel Falls trailhead is just off of South Fork Road in Big Sky, about fifty miles south of Bozeman. According to alltrails.com, the trail is only a 1.7 mile hike out-and-back. Reviewers on AllTrails gave the trail an “easy” difficulty rating.

The Ousel Falls trail is wide and maintained with gravel. The hike runs along a gorge, providing views of the stream that runs out from the falls. There are plenty of benches and tables along the way, and off-leash dogs are permitted on the path, which is open year-round. In the winter, the falls freeze over to give the trail a very different view than in the warmer months.

Ousel Falls and other trails in the area are maintained year-round by the Big Sky Community Organization (BSCO).

"All of our surfaced trails like the Ousel Falls trail and Crail trail get resurfaced with new material periodically. In the winter, we groom a number of our trails for nordic skiing and hikers, walkers and fat bikers," Marco DelGuidice, parks, trails, facilities and maintenance manager for the BSCO, said.

According to DelGuidice, due to it’s limited staff, the BSCO relies on the public to notify them of unknown maintenance issues. This is made known throughout the trails, with signs posted that include the BSCO logo and phone number, (406) 993-2112.

Helping notify the BSCO of maintenance issues is not the only way the community can get involved with the trails.

"Besides the information feedback from the public we also host a few volunteer days throughout the year, the biggest of which is National Trails Day in June. During National Trails Day we have a number of projects we send volunteers and staff out to complete," DelGuidice said.

Jake Elsen — a community member who works in Big Sky during the winter and frequents Ousel Falls during his time there — said the trail is family-friendly. However, the winter months do present more challenges to the trail. "It was very treacherous when I was there. It was quite icy, so we were sliding down all the declines," Elsen said.

Many students at MSU already explore and hike. Senior art student Anne Arthurs has been outdoorsy since she was little. “It has always helped me clear my head and feel more connected to myself,” she said.

“I’d encourage people to start exploring because it opens up so many avenues of hobbies. It might seem intimidating, but everyone in the outdoors community is super kind and supportive,” Arthurs said.

Ousel Falls trail is just one trail out of the 1,599 in Montana that you can find using the free AllTrails app. Every trail is unique and involves its own challenges that can match different skill levels.

Anyone looking to volunteer for the BSCO can visit its website at bsco.org under the volunteer tab to learn more.