Dirt Running Trails and Routes in Town in Bozeman

Gallagator Trail
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From Main St. starting at Lindley Park or behind the Bozeman Library to Kagy & Willson/S. 3rd.
Flat, dirt trail connecting main street and Sourdough Trail. If you want to continue, the trail picks up a little ways past Kagy off of the dead end of S. 7th and continues behind the neighborhood for a little ways. An out & back from Main St. would be roughly 5 mi.

Sourdough Trail 
(and Graf Park)
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From Fairway Dr (just south of Kagy) all the way to Goldenstein. Flat, dirt running trails with plenty of shade, even a creek in Graf Park for your furry friends. Start from either end, an out & back would be approx. 3 mi.
The Gallagator and Sourdough trails can be connected via S. Tracy on either side of Kagy.

East Gallatin
​Recreation Area
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System of trails out near Bridger Canyon Rd. and Story Mill Rd. 
Trail can be picked up on North Wallace by the railroad crossing (go under the bridge), and continue around Stockyard Cafe across Bridger Canyon Rd. where you make a left and wind through neighborhoods to Bozeman Beach. Continues to Cherry Creek if you cross Manley. This out & back is approx 7 miles including the Cherry Creek loop. 

Triple Tree
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Triple Tree trailhead starts at a small parking lot off of Sourdough Rd in South Bozeman. The trail from the parking lot proceeds up a long, gradual hill into a wooded creek area. It crosses Limestone creek several times before steeply ascending to a viewpoint. If you go all the way to the viewpoint at the top it is an out and back trail of about 4.5 mi.

Gallatin County
Regional Park
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There are two small "lakes" at this park surrounded by trail. The trail system can be a couple of miles if you run absolutely all of it, but this trail might be best for short runs. The distance of the trail skirting both lakes is approximately 3/4 mi. If you are looking to do some short scenic laps this is the place as the views of the Bridgers are gorgeous from here. 

Peet's Hill &
Holly Cherry Loop
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Take advantage of the only real hill in town if you don't want flat: Peet's Hill off S. Church.
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Start at the Peet's Hill parking area behind the Bozeman Library and head up. Option to cross Highland and continue on what we call the Holly Cherry Loop (adjacent street names). This dirt single track meets back up with Kagy to the south. Option to go back down Highland and up to Peet's Hill or continue down Kagy, right on Church and pick up the trail back to the top of Peet's Hill. Entire loop would be roughly 4 mi.

Running Trails Around Bozeman

College "M" Trail
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Trailhead located up Bridger Canyon Rd. (Route 86- just look for the giant white M on the south end of the Bridgers!)

You have two options: the "Long" Way: 1 1/2 mi up a winding dirt trail with beautiful views, or the "Steep" Way:  3/4 mi straight up on a rocky dirt trail: difficult.

Both ways have the option to continue up to the ridge to Baldy (5 mi) and beyond. 
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Trail to Fairy Lake cuts off halfway up the long way and is 21 mi.

Sypes Canyon
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A beautiful wooded canyon on the west side of the Bridgers. The trail gradually winds to an impressive lookout point 2 miles up. Some parts are steeper than others but it's definitely run-able. This part of trail is the end of the Jim Bridger Trail Run. You can opt to continue up from the lookout.
Take Springhill Rd north to Sypes Canyon Rd and follow it to the end- there is a small parking area. 

South Cottonwood
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South of Bozeman off Cottonwood Rd (look for signs to the trailhead at Cottonwood Canyon Rd). It starts with a handful of steep switchbacks but don't be fooled, this trail opens up, crosses the creek a few times (plenty of water for dogs!), and is a beautiful trail to run. Just watch out for bikers around tight corners.
The third bridge is approximately 2.5-3 miles, but you can continue to Hyalite or even Mount Blackmore if you want.

Hyalite Canyon


​Located at the very end of Hyalite Canyon Rd (from S. 19th). Continue past the reservoir and to the end of the road where there is a parking lot and trailhead. The trail to Hyalite Peak is about 7 mi one-way, including single track, forest, creeks, meadows, and switchbacks. There are other options as well: Blackmore Lake, Palisade Falls, Grotto Falls, and Emerald and Heather Lakes. Check out more info on Hyalite Canyon here.

Bozeman Creek 
(Sourdough Canyon)


​This may be the most gradual of all the trails mentioned, as it gains elevation rather slowly. It is an old logging road that skirts Bozeman Creek and you can continue up it all the way to Mystic Lake (8 mi) or do an out and back at any distance. It is also a very popular trail for xc-skiing in the winter.
Located off of Nash Rd at Sourdough Canyon Rd just south of Bozeman.

Leverich Canyon


Another South Bozeman trail, this one can be found off Nash Rd, take South 3rd to the very end and then keep going. The last mile is a ROUGH dirt road, might want to leave the Prius at home. 
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It is popular amongst mountain bikers, so be alert. This trail is a loop of just less than 5 mi total and offers a great banking downhill once you pass the high point. At the start, it is suggested to go left at the first junction and do the loop clockwise, the same way that it is recommended to bikers. You will face switchbacks and be challenged on the uphill, but the downhill is one of the best around.
For more trails in and around Bozeman check out Map My Run, Outside Bozeman, and Gallatin Valley Land Trust.