Bridger Mountains

This is Bozeman’s backyard – an outdoor playground of resort skiing and prime Montana wilderness. Ski powder at Bridger Bowl through the winter, then hike the surrounding undeveloped peaks when the weather turns fair.

  • Located four miles Northeast of Bozeman, an hour and a half from Big Sky
  • Ski great front and backcountry terrain at Bridger Bowl December through early April
  • Fish for cutthroat trout at the Fairy Lake campground
  • Hike the 24-mile Bridger Foothills National Recreation Trail and climb 9,665-ft Sacagawea Peak
  • Witness the largest concentration of migrating Golden Eagles in the lower 48 states

Overview
Part of Gallatin National Forest and just Northeast of Bozeman, the Bridger Range is where front- and backcountry meet in an outdoor adventure paradise. Ski the groomers and side-country ridge terrain at Bridger Bowl or hike, fish, and bird watch in the surrounding wilderness – all just a few miles from downtown Bozeman.

Location/Directions
From Big Sky, take Gallatin Rd/US-191 N 34 miles.  Turn left at Huffine Ln. to stay on 191.  After 7.6 miles, turn Left at MT-86 N/N Rouse Ave.  Stay on 86 for access to the Bridger Foothills National Recreation Trail (4 miles), Bridger Bowl (16 miles), and Battle Ridge Campground (22 miles).
Bozeman District Office
3710 Fallon St., Suite C
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 522-2520

Season  
Ski Bridger Bowl December–April or hike and camp year round.

Activities

Hiking
Hiking trails abound on either side of the Bridger range, but most lead to the 24-mile Bridger Foothills National Recreation Trail.  Start in the “M” parking lot, four miles Northeast of Bozeman, and make the trek North, all the way to Fairy Lake. There, find the trailheads to 9,575-ft Hardscrabble and 9,665-ft Sacagawea Peaks.

Camping
There are two established camping areas in the Bridger Range: Fairy Lake Campground (9 sites) and Battle Ridge Campground (13 sites), both located on the eastern side of the range and accessible by road May 15 – September 15 (free, no reservations required).  The Battle Ridge Cabin, a rustic wood-heated log structure with 4 bunks, is also available year round with a reservation ($30, 1-877-444-6777).

Fishing
Fish alpine lakes in the Bridger Range year round and fish streams from the third Saturday in May until the end of November.  Pick up a permit at a local sporting goods store or one of the Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks regional offices, available in two-day increments for out-of-staters, then set out for road-accessible Fairy Lake for cutthroat trout.

Bird Watching
Watch hundreds of hawks, falcons, and eagles as they pass through the Bridger Range on their migration South during the first two weeks of October.  Golden Eagle counts typically range from 1200-1900 birds per season – you can spot up to 200 per day! - making this the site of the largest concentration of migrating Golden Eagles in the lower 48 states.  The best view is from above the Bridger Lift at Bridger Bowl, where members of HawkWatch International monitor the raptor migration and can help you identify different species.

Skiing
Bridger Bowl, open daily from early December through early April, is known for its expert side-country terrain (www.bridgerbowl.com).

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