Bridger Canyon
Bridger Canyon is a beautiful canyon leading to great opportunities of adventure in the Bridger Mountain Range of the Gallatin National Forest. The canyon is named after one of the great explorers of the early nineteenth century, Jim Bridger. Bridger scouted many of the trails and knew the mountains well. He was one of the first white men to explore the nation's and the world's first national park, Yellowstone. more info
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Fox Hollow Bed & Breakfast
Minutes from the Bridger Range. The Fox Hollow country-style custom home combines luxury accommodations with the panoramic Mtn views, wide-open spaces, and hospitality of MT.
Located just north of Bozeman, Montana, the Bridger Canyon is a gateway to year round recreation in the great outdoors. Leaving Bozeman, follow the ski area signs north on Highway 86 to Bridger Canyon Drive to reach Bridger Bowl, the town ski hill. From here it is a strenuous 2,100 foot climb to the top of the ridge for those wishing to get a grand valley view. Otherwise, wait for the snow to fly and for the lifts to zip you up the mountain for some great powder around Bridger Bowl's 1,500 skiable acres.
The fish hatchery next to Bridger Creek is five miles from downtown Bozeman. The mix of cottonwood, willow, dogwood, and Douglas fir at the mouth of Bridger Canyon is a magnet for many types of birds. Some of the birds you might see along the short nature trail include Calliope Hummingbird, Yellow Warbler, Black-headed Grosbeak, and American Goldfinch. Fish Hatchery Road on the far side of the creek is a good spot to watch for Belted Kingfisher and American Dipper.
In terms of birding, the area is best know for the fall raptor migration. Each autumn, usually in the first two weeks of October, you can view magnificent birds of prey on their migration south. Best times are usually 10 a.m.-2 p.m. Here you can experience the largest concentration of migrating Golden Eagles in the lower 48 states. Over 200 Golden Eagles may be observed in a single day. There are two good viewing sites in the Bridger Mountains. One is located at Bridger Bowl, 16 miles north of Bozeman. Viewing can be reached by hiking up the Bridger Lift area. The Forest Service maintains a raptor monitoring station here and will be available to answer questions. The climb is 2,100 feet. The second area recommended is Sacagawea Peak. This peak is the highest in the Bridgers and can be accessed from Fairy Lake.
Some great hikes are easily accessed from the Bridger Canyon Drive. The glorious spring and summer in the Bridger Mountain Range brings alpine wildflowers, abundant wildlife, and spectacular rock outcrops to gaze about and investigate their origin. Juniper, chokecherry, and hawthorn grow along these trails.
Several trailheads are on the west side of the Bridger Mountains, following the creek-fed canyon. Ferry Lake Trail is a 1.2 mile loop with a gain of 100 feet. The hike leads through lush, shady forest and up the south canyon wall. Sypes Canyon Trail is a 4 mile round trip with a gain of 1,000 feet. The hike meets up with the Ferry Lake Trail and ends at an overlook with outstanding views of the Gallatin Valley, Bozeman and the Madison and Tobacco Root Mountain Ranges. The more strenuous of the hikes from the canyon area is Sacagawea Peak, the highest peak in the Bridger Range reaching 9,665 feet. The hike is 4 miles round trip with a 2,000 foot elevation gain. The trail climbs up Sacagawea Mountain to a saddle between Sacagawea Peak and Hardscrabble Peak at the Bridger Divide. From the divide the trail winds up to the rocky summit for fantastic views of mountain ranges in every direction. To the south are the Gallatin and Madison Ranges, the Big Belts lie to the north, the Elkhorns and Tobacco Roots lie to the west, and the crazy Mountains are to the east.
The Bridger Canyon opens up to breathtaking mountains and grand views, just minutes outside of Bozeman, Montana. The recreation opportunities are great along with some diverse wildlife viewing. The area is an ideal getaway for locals and visitors alike. Folks of all ages can appreciate the outdoors with easy access from the Bridger Canyon.
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