The 7 best biking trails in and around Bozeman, Montana

Bozeman is renowned as one of the most liveable cities in the US, and a big part of that is its rugged beauty and how accessible it is to the community.

The city has incredible biking trails, from single-track adventures in the wilderness to leisurely pathways through urban parks that are perfect for kids and those new to exploring on two wheels. There's even an active cycling community ready to offer a helping hand or words of advice when needed.

We'd highly recommend a mountain bike for those who like to venture into the wilderness and go off-road. It opens up endless miles of grand mountains and forests around Bozeman, and you'll be able to cover much more ground than hiking would allow.

Numerous paved routes and urban tracks mean you can cycle in Bozeman regardless of the season or weather. Some hill trails are open year-round, and many ski resorts offer fat tire biking during the winter season, as well as fully-charged downhill rides in summer. These are our favorite trails to explore, and some top tips to ensure your biking trip to Bozeman is one to remember.

Tips for biking in Bozeman

• Bozeman's gear shops normally offer a good range of bike rentals, but check availability in advance with stores such as Bangtail Bikes and Owenhouse Cycling.

• Grizzly bears pose a particular risk to mountain bikers because cyclists move at speed and don't make much sound to scare bears away. If you're biking the more remote parts of the Gallatin Range, be sure to have bear spray accessible (ideally attached to your bike frame) and consider attaching bear bells to your bike.

• Tap into the local biking community in Bozeman before you hit the trails. Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club posts weekly rides, Alter Cycles has Friday drinks and weekly rides, and Bangtail Bikes organizes a Monday night ride.

• Many biking trails are shared with hikers, horse riders and even motorcyclists, so watch out for other traffic, especially on fast downhills. Some trails restrict mountain bikers to cycling on certain days, and e-bikes are considered to be motorbikes when it comes to trail-sharing regulations.

1. Bangtail Divide

Best for fit mountain bikers seeking fabulous views
25 miles, 5–6 hours, intermediate, 3100ft elevation gain

Bozeman's single best day ride is this IMBA Epic Trail, starting in Bridger Canyon, 20 miles northeast of Bozeman. This intermediate route will take you high into the mountains for a fabulous wilderness workout and lots of downhill fun. The opening seven-mile stretch is a lung-busting uphill switchback in first gear, but the flowing single track then takes you on a classic ridgeline ride through meadows of scented wildflowers with head-spinning views of six mountain ranges.

The final section is a fabulous, swooping six-mile descent on Grassy Mountain. You then face a seven-mile road pedal back to your car, or you can be smart and arrange a shuttle pick-up. Pack plenty of water and lunch for this long day.

2. Main St to the Mountains

Best for families looking for a downtown park ride
2.5 miles round trip, one hour, easy

For an hour or two of active fun in the center of Bozeman, families can opt for an easy off-road bicycle ride on trails of packed earth and gravel running south from Main St and finishing up with ridge-top views over the city and Bozeman Creek.

Take the Gallagator Linear/Burke Park Trail from Bozeman Library through Lindley Park to Sculpture Park, before gently climbing uphill through Burke Park and then go south along the Bozeman Trail. The full return ride is around 2.5 miles, but you can turn back whenever you need to; several benches offer a chance for a breather.

Alternatively, follow the Gallagator Trail to Langohr Park (with its climbing boulder) and roll on to the Museum of the Rockies, adding on a visit to Bozeman's best family attraction.

3. Mystic Lake

Best for mountain bikers looking for an easy ride
20 miles round trip, three hours, intermediate, 450m of elevation gain

The Sourdough Canyon Trail along Bozeman Creek to Mystic Lake is a no-stress, technically easy mountain bike route on wide and well-graded Forest Service dirt roads, passing rushing streams in the pine-scented forests of the Gallatin foothills.

The turn-around point is picnic-worthy Mystic Lake, where a Forest Service cabin offers a possible overnight adventure. The return is all downhill, back the way you came, or you can take an alternative route back along the exposed "Wall of Death" – as the name suggests, this is for confident riders only!

4. Big Sky Biking

Best for lift-served mountain bike trails and adrenaline-fuelled descents
Distances and times vary, easy to advanced

During the Montana summer, from early June to mid-September, the downhill action at Big Sky Resort shifts from skiing to mountain biking. Three lifts offer access to 40 miles of trails, covering a range of difficulties and styles, from extreme jumps to mellow banked rides. Lift passes start at $51 per day.

Beginners can start with the two-mile Easy Rider trail accessed via the Explorer Lift, or pick up some new skills on one of the weekly bike clinics. There are also good cross-country trails in the surrounding valleys, and you can go fat tire biking in winter. Try Christy Sports for rentals and trail information.

5. Spring cycling in Hyalite Canyon or Yellowstone National Park

Best for traffic-free road cycling
15.5 miles round trip, three hours, easy

Springtime in Montana brings some uncertain weather and muddy conditions on unpaved trails, but also two dream road rides. From April through to mid-May, scenic Hyalite Canyon Road to the southeast of Bozeman is open to cyclists only, snow and ice conditions permitting. It's a real treat to be able to savor the scenic paved road that runs along Hyalite Creek up to Hyalite Reservoir without the need to keep alert for speeding traffic.

Further south in Yellowstone National Park, the spring thaw also brings a welcome period of motor vehicle-free access to the park's western and north-western roads, linking Mammoth Hot Springs, Madison Junction and West Yellowstone. You can cycle as far as you want in sublime solitude, with road traffic limited to the occasional bison (give them a wide berth). Electric bikes are allowed in Yellowstone National Park but not on Hyalite Canyon Road.

6. Crosscut Mountain

Best for beginner mountain bikers and teenagers
Distances and times vary, easy to moderate

Crosscut Mountain to the north of Bozeman is a great place for beginners and kids. There are 14 miles of trails (including 10 miles of single track), with plenty of space to practice your skills as a family. The nonprofit organization Crosscut also runs mountain bike clinics and weeklong afternoon camps for tweens (grades 4 to 8) and teenagers. In winter, come here for some fat biking on groomed snow.

7. Leverich Canyon

Best for anyone seeking a downhill workout close to Bozeman
5 miles round trip, 1-2 hours, intermediate, 1250ft ascent

Located just past Bozeman's southern suburbs, the Leverich Canyon loop trail kicks off with a three-mile, 1250ft ascent up the eastern side of the canyon, past an abandoned mine, before finally rewarding you with an exciting downhill, bermed single-track ride. There are several places where you can catch some air, but this is a mixed-use trail through the forest, so look out for hikers as you descend.