Biking
For information on where bicycles are prohibited year-long, seasonal restrictions, and trail timeshare information, please see the alerts page.
Miles of mountain biking and road cycling exist on the Custer Gallatin National Forest. These opportunities are typically best between June and October, but regardless of season, bikers should always:
- Electric bikes (or E-bikes) are considered motorized vehicles and are ONLY allowed on motorized routes.
- Practice low impact to the soil by limiting riding shortly after the rain, keeping skidding to a minimum, packing out litter and staying on designated trails.
- Control your bicycle, anticipate other trail users including runners, hikers, bicyclists or horses around blind corners and slow down accordingly.
- Always yield the trail. Bicycles are fast and can scare people or livestock. Always make your approach known well in advance; a friendly greeting or bell works well.
- When approaching oncoming traffic on narrow trails, slow down and move off the trail to the downhill side. Give animals extra room and time to adjust to you, all mountain bikers are judged by your actions. Make contacts friendly no matter how brief.
- Leave gates as you found them, respect private property and route closures.
- Know the area, your equipment and plan accordingly, dressing for the weather. Riders should be self-sufficient at all times, wear a helmet and carry necessary supplies for changes in equipment or weather conditions.
- During fall rides, wear a hunter orange mesh vest or bright colors and attach a bear bell to your bike bag to warn hunters of your presence. Do the same for any dog companion joining the ride.
Mountain Biking
The Custer Gallatin National Forest contains miles of mountain biking trails suitable for a wide range of experience levels. For information on which trails permit mountain biking, contact the appropriate district office.
For information on where bicycles are prohibited year-long, seasonal restrictions, and trail timeshare information, please see the alerts page.
Search for Biking Opportunities
Trout Creek Trail (# 29)
Trout Creek Trail (# 29) is 3 miles long. The trail begins at Beartrap Trail (# 95) and follows Trout Creek until it dead-ends at a waterfall. Elevation change: 200 feet. The trail is open for the…
Truman Gulch Trailhead
Provides access to the west central Bridgers. There is a developed trailhead at the end of the road with a parking area and horse loading ramp. Trail feeds into the Bridger Foothills Trail.
Upper & Lower South Fork Brackett
Trailhead offering numerous opportunities for looped and out and back day hikes along with access to the Bridger Foothills National Recreation Trail and Ross Pass.
Upper Wapiti Trailhead
Multiple Trail opportunities that take off from this trailhead in the Taylor Fork drainage. Trail #68 - Oil Well Trail follows an old road and is an ATV trail.Trail #35 known as Little Wapiti is a…
Watkins Creek Trailhead
Watkins Creek Trailhead starts off with Trail #215, it is a trailhead that connects to three trail opportunities including: Trail #215 to #209 - Coffin Lake - A roundtrip 10 mile out and back hike -…
West Fishtail Trail (# 37)
West Fishtail Trail (# 37) is 2 miles long. The trail begins on the Benbow Jeep Trail (Forest Road 2415) and makes several loops with East Fishtail Trail (# 37A), Island Lake Trail (# 37B), and East…
Whitetail Cabin
Site Open
View this site on Recreation.gov Whitetail Cabin is a registered historic site and was once used as a ranger station for the Whitetail Reserve in the early 1900s.
Willow Creek Trail (# 105)
Willow Creek Trail (# 105) is 2.5 miles long. The trail begins at Palisades Campground and follows Willow Creek to Red Lodge Mountain Ski Area. Elevation change: 600 feet. The trail is open for the…