Best Places for Cross Country Skiing in the Bozeman Area

Winter has officially arrived in Montana, and if you want to enjoy all that winter has to offer, cross country skiing is a great choice.

Cross country skiing is an incredibly popular activity in Bozeman during the winter and is a fantastic alternative to paying for a lift ticket at a ski resort. In addition to being less expensive, cross country skiing is also easier on your body than traditional skiing.

Get our free mobile app

Fortunately, Bozeman is a cross country skiers paradise. There are many trails throughout the area that are groomed regularly by the Bridger Ski Foundation.

If you want to wax up your skis and hit the trail, you can find a list of Bozeman area Cross Country trails that are groomed by BSF below.

• Bozeman Creek/Sourdough Canyon - To get there, head south of Sourdough Canyon Road until you reach the parking lot at the Sourdough/Bozeman Creek Trailhead.

• Hyalite Canyon - The area around Hyalite Reservoir is a popular destination for cross country skiers. To get there, head south on Hyalite Canyon Road until you reach Hyalite Reservoir. A map of trails in the area can be found below.

• Sunset Hills & Highland Glen -This area is conveniently located in the heart of Bozeman. To get there, head east on Main St. until you reach Highland Blvd. Turn right on Highland Blvd and continue until you reach Sunset Hills Nordic Trails. It will be on the right side of Highland Blvd. across from the Bozeman Softball Complex.

• Bridger Creek Golf Course - If you're just getting into cross country skiing, the Bridger Creek Golf Course is perfect for beginners. You need to park at the golf course located at 2710 McIlhaten Rd. After parking, you'll find trails on both sides of the road.

• Sacajawea Middle School Athletic Fields - The terrain at Sacajawea Middle School is great if you're just learning how to cross country ski and want to get more comfortable on skis. The trail is open to the public when school is not in session. Sacajawea Middle School is located at 3525 S. 3rd St. in Bozeman. Park in the visitor parking lot and walk around the south end of the school to find the trail.

The Bridger Ski Foundation works hard to keep trails groomed throughout the season. All grooming and maintenance is made possible by donations, trail passes, and grants.

An individual season pass is $50. You can also purchase a family season pass for $100. Individual day passes are $10.

Trail passes are voluntary, but if you buy a pass you can do your part to help keep the trails groomed and free for everyone. For more information about purchasing a trail pass, click here.