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I am planning to visit the US in the early summer and would like to do some riding in Montana and Wyoming, but don’t really know where to start looking for good areas – any suggestions? I don’t want anything too technical but day rides would be good.
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Montana and Wyoming are huge states. There’s a tremendous amount of variety to be had, so if you’re going to make the effort to go that far, lets do everything we can to make it worth your while.
How technical is "not too technical." Just as important, are you up for a climb if it’s not too technical. Most of the great rides in Montana will require some climbing and altitude may become a factor, so your condition is important.
Do you want to roam around and hit a variety of areas or are you looking to set up a base from which you can access a lot of rides without further travel?
Geography is very important. Much of those states is prairie and not much fun on a bike, but the mountains are as good as it gets. I have ridden extensively throughout the Western US and parts of Montana are among my favorites, right up there with the best Colorado and Utah have to offer.
Does the opportunity for non-biking activities matter? If so, which ones?Do you care if you’re near a town/city? If so, just how much civilization do you want? Many of Montana’s best rides are near small cities that don’t offer much in the way of amenities. Many aren’t near any kind of town at all.
Check the trail reviews for those two states on this site. Many good rides are listed, but many are not. Check out those with pictures posted. Some of the rides I posted have a number of pictures that are generally indicative of what you will find on the trail.
Are you okay with busy trails or do you want to find solitude? Fortunately, most of Montana is pretty far on the solitude scale and crowds are only an issue on weekends on trails close to the larger (50,000+) cities.
Lots of questions which may or may not be pertinent to your decision process. If you fill us in just a bit more, we can give you some great recommendations.
Oh, by the way, time frame is important. How early is "early summer?" Parts of Montana/Wyoming retain snow for quite a while. If you go in early June, that will probably narrow your choices considerably. Check out the review of the Lost Cabin Lake trail in Montana and you’ll see the snowfield I had to carry my bike across–in August!
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When I say not too technical I don’t want to have to navigate big jumps of huge drop-offs, i am certainly up for a climb or two – i ride my bike uphill to work most days so my condition is improving.
It would be good to visit a couple of different places as I am travelling such a long way, and would like to visit Yellowstone, but I am not really that fussed about location. If there were a number of rides from one base I would be fine with that as well.
It doesn’t really matter if I am in a town, I was thinking of having to camp anyway, so if that gives me access to the better trails that is fine.
I would like to avoid the school holidays, which is why i thought early summer would be a better time to go – and it will be cheaper – but if my choice of trails will be limted would it be better to visit in September, or is the snow returning then?
As you can see I am pretty flexible in where and when I visit, but would like to make the most of my time in the US.
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Great, that helps narrow things down nicely.
If you want a good base that will let you sample a lot of trails and branch out to other areas, including Yellowstone, it’s hard to beat the Bozeman area. Bozeman is a small city, but it’s home of Montana State University, has a cool vibe, as well as a couple good bike shops should you need anyhting. The surrounding mountains have lots of options for camping and escaping the crows along with every type of singletrack available. There are two absolutely classic rides here.
1. The Bangtail ridge is a 22 mile point to point on mosly noni-technical singletrack with about 4000 feet of climbing, so some conditioning is necessary. Add eight miles of paved road to make it a loop. A shorter version, called the Grassy Meadow Loop will be easier and still give youy the best bit of singletrack. There are stunning views of the Bridger Range all along the divide.
2. Emerald Lake (pics on this site) has a good climb to an unbelievably beautiful alpine lake in a high cirque. This is a popular one, though, so you’ll definitely want to hit it at an off-peak time.In addition, there are numerous other great rides. South Cottonwood Creek provides a nice, gentle climb on high quality singletrack. Go as far as you like then turn around and enjoy the downhill.
The corridor from Bozeman to Yellowstone (about 2 hrs drive) passes through Gallatin Canyon (beautiful) by Big Sky Ski Resort. There are numerous rides here as well, mostly longer and more challenging. The local favorites are Garnet Mountain adn Little Wapiti Creek. The Grizzly Loop provides a great shorter loop.
There isn’t much riding in the immediate area of Yellowstone on the Wyoming side. The mountains are beautiful, but much of them are in designated Wilderness areas, which means no bikes. What isn’t in the wilderness doesn’t have mush in the way of bike trails, unless you’re pretty familiar with the area and really know how to read a map. There are a couple good rides in the Jackson Hole area, but not as much as on the Montana side. The closest part of Wyoming that has a plethora of good riding is the Bighorn Mountains, a coupl hours south of Billings, Montana. Billings has one cool ride in town, but it’s all very technical (pics on this site–Zimmerman Trail), but theres a few good rides in Red Lodge, about an hour away. The trails down in the Bighorn Mountains of Wyoming are mostly technical, with a high proportion of rocky sections of trail.
Missoula is Montana’s other college town, home of the University of Montana. It is also blessed with good trails, even closer to town. The trails in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area might be great for you. Not overly technical, strong but doable climbs, and lots of quality singletrack. The scenery isn’t as dramatic, but you can’t beat what’s under your knobbies.
If you really want great bang for your buck, singletrack style, hit the Whitehall area south of the interstate between Bozeman and Missoula. Check out the review, with pics, of Lost Cabin Lake on this site. Excellent singletrack with fantastic views and the coolest lake ever at the top. The Louise Lake trail is accessed from the same trailhead and provides a similar experience. Right next to the interstate is the Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park where you can combine a cool mountain bike loop with a tour of a way cool cave!
Helena, the state capital, is surrounded by cool trails. You could set up camp here and hit a good variety without working at it too hard.
Whitefish is in the Northwestern corner of the state and serves as the gateway to Glacier National Park which, for great scenery, beats the heck out of any other national park, Yellowstone included. Whitefish has a way cool vibe and is a great place to stay. Also, the elevation of these mountains is a little lower and may be a good way to adjust. The problem with Whitefish is that the rides tend to be either real easy or real hard with not much inbetween. If being near Glacier National Park and starting with a little less elevation appeals to you, get in touch with the guys at Glacier Cyclery (http://www.glaciercyclery.com). They’re usually pretty good about helping folks make the most of their time in the area.
There are oodles of other great rides and locations throughout the state, but these are great places to start. Any of the mountainous areas will have camping options, ranging from commercial campgrounds with all the amenities to remote wilderness sites with nothing more than a flat place to pitch your tent.
The one question I forgot to ask is how much time you have. If you only have a week or less, I’d set up in/near Bozeman and hit the trails I mentioned above, reserving a day or two for Yellowstone. If you’re lucky enough to have two weeks, I’d start in Whitefish, hit a couple trails there plus a day in Glacier National Park. Then drive down through Missoula and hit one of the loops in the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area OR cut across to Helena and hit the Little Blackfoot Meadows and Mt Helena Ridge (including Waukina Sky) trails, then head to Bozeman with a stop at Lost Cabin Lake on the way.
Unfortunately, the best riding in Wyoming is in the Snowy Range and the area between Laramie and Cheyenne in the southeastern corner, a good six hours from Yellowstone with not much inbetween.
I highly recommend the book "Montana Singletrack" from Beartooth Publishing (http://www.beartoothpublishing.com/). It is the best single guidebook I’ve seen. It has accurate descriptions of the trails, including elevation profiles and a technicality rating. It is big enough to have some nice glossy photos that are representative of what you’ll see on the trail, but small enough to fit nicely in a camelback and take on your ride. It is an indespensible resource for riding in Montana, especially if you’re new. It has good descriptions of most of the rides I’ve mentioned. I can give you more info on these or others if you like.
Having just been transferred from Montana to the East Coast, I really miss the Rockies. If you enjoy it half as much as I did, it’ll be the time of your life. Enjoy!
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When you visit will be important. If you go before the schools let out, that needs to be the end of May, not June. Even in early june, the rides above Bozeman may still be snowed in. If you have the flexibility to go in early September, that should be better. The best time is immediately after the Labor Day weekend, which signifies the end of summer. All the kids are back in school and all the tourists have left–you will have the mountains to your self and this is usually the best weather of the year. This is the first week in September. While weather in the high country is a crap shoot and you could get snowed on at any time of year, you’re much less likely to get shut down by new snow in September, than by left over snow in June. It also rains less in September than in early June or May.
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What a lot of great information. Thanks so much, I will have to get my maps out and start planning. It sounds like 2 weeks in Septemeber will be the way to go.
Thanks.
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I have ridden Emerald Lake and skibum is correct, beautiful view with traffic on trail, including ATV’s.
One trail I loved in the state of Montana was River Trail #223 northeast of Missoula, near St. Regis, off Interstate 90. 9 miles each way, out and back for a total of 29km. Riding along a large, fast flowing river, the Clark Fork. Beautiful, remote, almost unknown trail.
Yellowstone has much to offer, my favorite National Park. The northeast corner of the park is where much of the wildlife is. In 2 days saw 25 species in the area from a wolf, black and grizzly bears with cubs, moose, elk, pronghorn, marmots, buffalo heards and much more.
A walk down the ladder/stairs to the bottom of the Lower Yellowstone Falls is a blast, bring a rain coat for the mist. The geysers are more numerous there than anywhere on earth.
Jackson Hole is also worth a visit but touristy and expensive. Some trails there but haven’t ridden there.
I live in Arizona where winter riding is sweet.
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