Montana Mags- Hello, help and thank you.

[biggins]

So the wife is doing a four month clinical in Billings. I will be joining her from late June to mid August. I will have a 6" trail bike in tow and a lot of time on my hands. Thus, I am looking for some suggestions as to where to go from Billings to ride. I know of Zimmerman park right in town, but that's about all I know. I am curious for info on and possible riding partners for:

Rides w/in 30 min of Billings

Rides in and around Bozeman (will be there off and on throughout the summer)

All day rides w/in a couple hours of Billings for the weekends with the wife.

I am psyched to provide beers and safety materials in exchange for any help I can get. Thanks folks, looking forward to my time out there.

[Montana Rider]

I can’t speak to Billings but I’ve heard (haven’t been yet) there’s sweet riding down by Red Lodge / Beartooths.
In regards to BZN, pick up the book:

http://www.beartoothpublishing.com/guidemtnbike.php

or this map from your local bike shop / web retailer:

http://www.beartoothpublishing.com/bozeman.php

I prefer longer rides with amazing scenery and flowy trails more so than straight up/down so take my recommendations with a grain of dirt…

Close[r] to BZN Area

Bangtail Divide (book / map @ 20 mins N of town) , you can do the whole thing. I usually do Grassy Mountain section which includes the fun downhill / road ride back to car as opposed to the whole enchilada.

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Shafthouse (NOT in the book) is another fun one up in the Bridgers, scenic views of the Crazy Mtns. Park across the street just after the turn for Fairy (just a bit past Bracket creek where Bantail Divide singletrack ends) then ride up towards Fairy Lake, and take the right turn on singletrack once you're near the end of the road (which SWEEPS LEFT and goes 1/2 mile to Fairy Lake if you go too far) The singletrack passes a few logging roads on the downhill, but just look across the road to find the singletrack continuation. Eventually you'll come out to a gravel road -- go downhill (right) to Bridger Canyon road and make a right, and ride back to your car at the turnoff to Fairy. If you have two cars you can shuttle the road climb (as well as the Bridger Canyon Rd miles...)

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Chestnut Mtn, New trail so NOT in book, probably on map but not sure, 16 miles = 2,400 feet, crappy map here, most hardcore riders do it as out and back, I prefer the road climb (or road shuttle) out to Goose
http://www.gvlt.org/wp-content/uploa...-Map-Flyer.pdf

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Emerald Lake (in book/map) up in Hyalite just 30 mins from town… Monotrack to beautiful high alpine lake. Better during the week as lots of foot traffic and there’s trail time share regs in place…

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Garnet (in book / map) down Gallatin Canyon 30 mins from BZN. Long road climb, super fast downhill, fire lookout tower can be reserved for overnights.

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Homestake Pass (Beaver Pond segment is in the book, 45 mins W of Bozeman en route to Butte) I ride this one from the hwy, take the CDT S to Beaver Pond fork (right) out to road, (left) and climb to pass where you can pick the CDT up on left back past BP fork and to car. You can also ride CDT N to overlook of the Virgin / not sure if it connects to Butte (yet) but will eventually

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Big sky Beta:
http://www.grizzlyoutfitters.com/sum...e-big-sky-area

Taylor Fork (in book/map) Wapiti used to be my favorite – views / wildlife outstanding, but downhill has been eroded to crap, there’s a slew of options from that ridge though. I rode TF -> Hebgen Lake via Red Canyon last summer. Long day in bear country, more of a backcountry adventure.

Buck Ridge is an easy ride and can hook into Yellow Mule(s), in book / map.

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***EPIC RIDES (further away or longer days, in order of my favorites)***

Curly Lake Highline (in book, ~ 1 hour W of Bozeman, S of Cardwell) 25 miles = 5000, above treeline, as good as it gets, though I’m starting to think Henry’s Mountain (see below) is just as good. Closed until July 16th for mtn goat kidding.

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Mile or Sheep, or Mile->Sheep (not in book, but on BZN/BS/W Yellowstone Map), out and back or hero long day. In the Henry mtns W. of West Yellowstone – may be eventually closed to bikes, ride it while you can.

http://forums.mtbr.com/idaho-montana...ep-808401.html

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Also in the area is the new CDT reroute off of Targhee Pass (10 M west of W. Yellowstone), hooks up to Mile and Sheep or out and back.

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Blackmore -> Cottonwood (book shows History -> Cottonwood, but that misses a bunch of the sweet singletrack), 30 minutes outside BZN up in Hyalite, could camp up there and do Emerald one day and Blackmore to Cottonwood the next)

[biggins]

Whoa- that's an awesome post, thanks. I too prefer flow and scenery most of the time. I will be checking out a lot of this and will continue to hunt down Red Lodge info. Thanks again.

Any Billings mags out there? I know its not the coolest burg in MT but its where i'll be.

[concretejungle]

Well I'm glad he covered it. Hit me up with a PM when you get out here and make it to the BZN.

[hick]

Check out the Snowies, a few good rides off the plateau near Rockdodge (don't forget to hit Redlodge Brewery!), head south to the BigHorns, Deer Cr can be fun, and some stuff in the Crazies. The best though is a place I cannot speak of between Liv and the Magic City. Lots to do on weekends, you should be stoked!

[Bobcat Sig]

You're going to be in Billings during the summer months? Kill yourself. Fuck that town.

The trails have been covered. PM when you're here and we'll go for some pedal time.

[hick]

You're going to be in Billings during the summer months? Kill yourself. Fuck that town.

The trails have been covered. PM when you're here and we'll go for some pedal time.

It could be worse, he could have to live in Bozeman during the summer

[Sirshredalot]

Billings allegedly has some sick disc golf for non riding days

[tellybele]

It could be worse, he could have to live in Bozeman during the summer

With even more L-Aliens !!

[biggins]

Not gonna kill myself, not gonna complain over the location either. An hour to Red Lodge beats an hour to Wachusett any day. Thanks for the advice so far and pms will be forthcoming. Any other cental MT suggestions will be much appreciated. Rock on.

[hick]

With even more L-Aliens !!

You lost me. What the fuck is an L-Alien?

Biggins,
Seriously, lots of good adventure riding within a couple hours of Billings. Tons to do and you won't see anyone!

[Conundrum]

I've heard there's a decent trail between Clyde Park and Bridger but personally haven't ridden it. I've ridden some stuff around Big Sky that was fun...probably in that post above that I'm bookmarking for my next trip that way.

[carlh]

Slight thread drift. I recently moved to Bozeman, and would like to meet people to do long XC/adventure type rides with. PM me if you are interested in riding, or when the snow melts

[stuckathuntermtn]

You're about 2 months early for BZN riding.

[biggins]

Red Lodge. School me on Red Lodge. I think I will be there a lot. Gracias amigos.

[hick]

Red Lodge. School me on Red Lodge. I think I will be there a lot. Gracias amigos.

This is easy, get the Beartooth map and if it isn't wilderness, ride it. Quite a few good rides really with good vert.

[tellybele]

You lost me. What the fuck is an L-Alien?

Biggins,
Seriously, lots of good adventure riding within a couple hours of Billings. Tons to do and you won't see anyone!

Somebody from the CityOfAngles. Comrendo Vato?

[biggins]

Got a delivery from Beartooth Publishing yesterday- spent over an hour drooling at the possibilities those maps present.

Hick- what bribery materials will be necessary to get a clue (via PM of course) as to those sweet spots "between Liv and the Magic City?" I'll be out there for Memorial Day weekend and will be up for a quick scouting hike to whet my appetite for July/August. Also a quick shout to tenex who has already played host and tourguide to the family- look forward to meeting you my man.

[biggins]

Aaaand my bike is here. Riding with the wife this weekend, but after that I'd be psyched to get out with anyone willing to show an east coast city mouse around. Will be riding Zimmerman/Phipps a lot. Stoked on some Red Lodge/BTPass options, but kinda ner(d)vous about getting out on most of that stuff alone. Willow Creek may be my solo lap option... not bad.

stoked.

[Bobcat Sig]

Aaaand my bike is here. Riding with the wife this weekend, but after that I'd be psyched to get out with anyone willing to show an east coast city mouse around. Will be riding Zimmerman/Phipps a lot. Stoked on some Red Lodge/BTPass options, but kinda ner(d)vous about getting out on most of that stuff alone. Willow Creek may be my solo lap option... not bad.

stoked.

So you ended up in Billings, eh? Are you making it west at all?

[biggins]

Definitely. Will be in Jackson over the weekend and Big Sky middle of next week. Riding Bangtail in two weekends and Red Lodge at least a couple of days a week. I'll be in Bozeman a bunch throughout, so I'll post up if anyone wants to join a slowly shaping up flatlander for some rides.

I gotta say, too, Billings is rad. Nicest people, no attitude or snoot, great community, and the rims are pretty sweet for a daily ride spot. Heck, I met a woman last night who drives up from Red Lodge to ride there with her pals a few times a week. Hate on Billings all you want- but I'm diggin' this place and the townsfolk seem to really dig it too.

[biggins]

Billings allegedly has some sick disc golf for non riding days

It is a big deal here. Public course right down the street and Phipps Park is apparently a destination for disc golfers (!?). Who knew.

Again, though, nicest people. My dog has blundered his way on to a couple of fairways and all the frolfers ever do is laugh and wave as I frantically try to get him out of their way. Love it here.

[Tye 1on]

Definitely. Will be in Jackson over the weekend and Big Sky middle of next week. Riding Bangtail in two weekends and Red Lodge at least a couple of days a week. I'll be in Bozeman a bunch throughout, so I'll post up if anyone wants to join a slowly shaping up flatlander for some rides.

I gotta say, too, Billings is rad. Nicest people, no attitude or snoot, great community, and the rims are pretty sweet for a daily ride spot. Heck, I met a woman last night who drives up from Red Lodge to ride there with her pals a few times a week. Hate on Billings all you want- but I'm diggin' this place and the townsfolk seem to really dig it too.

good weekend for jackson, music in particular is going off! Might be up for a short slow ride friday or sunday am---

[Bobcat Sig]

Definitely. Will be in Jackson over the weekend and Big Sky middle of next week. Riding Bangtail in two weekends and Red Lodge at least a couple of days a week. I'll be in Bozeman a bunch throughout, so I'll post up if anyone wants to join a slowly shaping up flatlander for some rides.

I gotta say, too, Billings is rad. Nicest people, no attitude or snoot, great community, and the rims are pretty sweet for a daily ride spot. Heck, I met a woman last night who drives up from Red Lodge to ride there with her pals a few times a week. Hate on Billings all you want- but I'm diggin' this place and the townsfolk seem to really dig it too.

Definitely give a shout when you're this way.

As to ye olde Magic City ... give it time. Lived there two years; hated it. Glad you're liking it.

[biggins]

As to ye olde Magic City ... give it time. Lived there two years; hated it. Glad you're liking it.

I spend all my time in the Casinos. "Patio's Open!"