Enjoying a perfect fall ride on Corbly Gulch.

Bozeman is truly an outdoor enthusiasts paradise - no matter your activity of choice you’re bound to find high quality adventures right near town. Mountain biking is no exception of course! There’s so much stellar mountain biking in the SW Montana Region that it would be impossible to cover even a fraction of it here - this article focuses on several of my favorite rides that are within 30 - 45 minutes driving of Bozeman.

Access, Advocacy, & Etiquette

All of the rides in this article are on public land surrounding Bozeman. This land belongs to all of us - be a good steward so bikers can enjoy these trails in the years to come. Clean up trash and dog waste, be courteous to others, and respect the local flora & fauna.

The Southwest Montana Mountain Biking Association (SWMMBA) is a non-profit organization that helps advocate for biking access, builds and maintains trails in SW Montana, hosts community events, and more. If you’re riding in or near Bozeman, consider supporting them with a one time or recurring donation.

Some trails are subject to usage timeshares - be sure to check these before heading out for your ride.

Don’t forget that bikers yield to hikers, and uphill traffic has the right of way. Montana is bear country, so always bring bear spray and ride in groups when possible!

There is a solid mountain biking guidebook for SW Montana - the Southern Montana Singletrack Guidebook can be found in outdoor stores around Bozeman.

Now, let’s get to riding!

Table of Contents

Favorite Quick Rides (1-2 hrs)

Leverich Canyon - 5.1 miles, 1,265 ft ascent, 1 hr ride time

leverich canyon biking — Getting ready for the amazing downhill in Leverich.

If you’re looking for the best quick ride near Bozeman, look no further. Only about 15 minutes outside of town, Leverich’s climb will have you working and the descent will have you coming back time and time again. The road can get a bit rough, a higher clearance vehicle is nice but not required.

South Cottonwood - 8 miles, 870 ft ascent, 1.5 hr ride time

South Cottonwood is a beautiful, moderate trail that follows the South Cottonwood Creek into the Gallatin range. This trail continues for quite a long ways into the mountains and you can definitely follow it for a longer ride, but I really enjoy riding it about 4 miles out. At 4 miles there’s a wonderful clearing on the creek to stop for a snack and maybe some meditation if that’s your thing. The trail also gets much more technical and rocky after mile 4, so if I’m just out for a shorter ride mile 4 is an ideal spot to turn around. This trail gets busy with hikers, it’s best to ride it at a low usage time.

Tripletree Loop - 5.5 miles, 975 ft ascent, 1 hr ride time

Oh, Tripletree! This is the trail I frequent most due to its close proximity to my house, fun terrain, and water access for my dogs. This one will keep you coming back for the same reasons - you can also link TT into Painted Hills for a really nice ride around Bozeman.

Sypes Canyon - 6.9 miles, 1816 ft ascent, 1 hr 45 min ride time

Spectacular views of Bozeman and the surrounding mountains make Sypes a great trail right in town.

If you want a steep uphill battle and an incredibly fun downhill with great views mixed in, look no further. Sypes is definitely a challenging ride, with some sections that are probably hike a bike for all but the strongest riders. It’s a great workout though, and the views on the ridge are stellar. Then the best part - the downhill - makes it all worth it.

Moser / Buckskin Meadows - 5.7 miles, 940 ft climb, 1 hr ride time

Hyalite has tons of great riding, but the drive up the canyon makes a good amount of the riding available only on days when you have lots of time. For those days that you don’t, Moser to Buckskins Meadows is perfect. Beautiful rides through winding trails and grassy meadows make for a great day out on the steed.

Painted Hills / Town Trails - Rider’s choice

Right in the heart of Bozeman sits the Painted Hills trails. This trail system starts downtown and continues all the way to Tripletree - you can start pretty much anywhere you like on the trail system and take it as far as you want to! Painted Hills is great for those days that you don’t feel like driving.

Best Medium Rides (2-5 hrs)

Corbly Gulch - 9 miles, ~1500 ft ascent, ~2 hrs

This is by far my favorite trail in the Bozeman area. Wonderful uphill pedaling on smooth trails through a beautiful forest leads into one of the most enjoyable downhill rides I’ve done on a mountain bike. This trail has a little bit of everything and is a blast to ride again and again. The Trailforks track doesn’t include the washed out road you have to bike up to get to the the trailhead, and it continues on into a rocky section near the end. I usually stop at the last switchback to soak in the views - you’ll know where it is when you get there.

Johnson Canyon - 12 miles, ~2000 ft ascent, 2.5 hrs

On the northern end of the Bridgers sits the Johnson Canyon trailhead. Tucked back into the mountains and less frequented than many of the other trails on this list, chances are you’ll have the area to yourself as you pedal away from the semi-remote trailhead. The uphill is awesome, with a wonderful side hill that puts wildflowers on full display in the summer. As you reach the end of the trail you have a choice - you can either bomb down for one last downhill and pedal back up the way you came, or continue on down North Cottonwood (hike a bike) and ride the road back to your car (15 miles, 2700 ft ascent).

Copper City - Rider’s Choice

Getting ready to send it down Neversweat in Copper City.

It would practically be a crime to not mention Copper City in this article. Just 45 minutes out of Bozeman is the mountain biking haven of Copper City! 30 miles of single track through a variety of terrain makes this the perfect place to spend a whole day riding. While the arid environment of CC can lead to some very hot days in the summer, mornings are very pleasant at CC, and spring and fall pretty much always provide perfect conditions at CC. You can even get some good days in the shoulder season and in winter depending on snowfall.

Copper City is on BLM land, so there is some camping available in the area as well as a pit toilet at the trailhead.

Emerald Lake - 8.6 miles, 1900 ft ascent, 2.5 hrs

There isn’t a ton of riding in Hyalite mentioned in this article - getting up into Hyalite usually takes at least 45 minutes or more, so most of the riding is a little beyond the scope of this article. Emerald Lake, however, is right around 45 minutes from Bozeman and is an definitely worth the drive up the canyon! A steep, techy uphill leads to a beautiful system of lakes in a mountain basin. Nice place to eat a quick snack before bombing back downhill!

Garnet Mountain - 8.6 miles, 2800 ft ascent, 3 hrs

Nice views of Lava Lake and the Madisons from Garnet Mountain.

Talk about an uphill sufferfest - Garnet Mountain will have you questioning why you chose to bike here until you reach the top. Once there you’ll be rewarded with incredible views of the Madison and Bridger mountain ranges, and you get to hangout at a cool forest service fire lookout (that you can rent out!) for a bit. You’ll also take your break with the knowledge that the hard part is behind you, and now you get to enjoy the sweet, sweet reward of the 2800 foot descent.

Wheeler Gulch - 7.2 miles, 1700 ft ascent, 2 hrs

Starting off from South Cottonwood, about a mile in you’ll run into the Wheeler Gulch turnoff on the right. Deviating from the stream, you’ll head uphill through a lush forest and past several switchbacks to a nice viewpoint before descending one of the most fun downhills in the Bozeman area.

Epic Adventure Rides (5+ hrs)

Bangtail Divide - 23 miles, 4000 ft ascent, 3 - 5 hours

Bangtail is the premiere bike ride in the Bozeman area. Fun uphill, stellar downhill, and over 20 miles of singletrack in one ride all add up for an epic day that you’ll want to relive over and over again.

While these certainly are some of the most popular trails in the Bozeman area, it’s just scratching the surface of the mountain biking SW Montana has to offer. Beyond the borders of the Bozeman area you’ll find tons of epic trails with long rides abound. Don’t be afraid to explore the path less traveled and get on some of the trails not listed here - if you have suggestions for trails that you think should make the list please let us know. Happy trails!

Journeys in Fantasium

Best Mountain Biking Trails in Bozeman, MT