Grassy Mountain Kids Ride

While there are no perfect “advanced” kids’ mountain bike rides around Bozeman there are a few that are pretty good, and Grassy Mountain may be the best. In late October, we rode out and back to the high point from Olsen Creek Road.  Overall, the Bangtail Divide falls short of the Continental Divide near Butte, but Grassy Mountain has a good combination of elements for an overall positive experience including just the right amount of challenge.  And there are several criteria by which it easily surpasses the CDT…

On the Bangtail Divide with the Crazy Mountains in the distance

Shafthouse Trail – Mid October 2011

The Shafthouse Trail is a brilliant ride – can’t believe it took me 11 years living in Bozeman to discover it!   Peak flower season would probably be the ideal time to ride it, but snowy mid-October was certainly exciting and spectacular.

Nearing the high point on the Shafthouse Trail

Up high, the wind blew me off the trail a few times and I had to push through some snow, but most of the trail was snow-free and super fun.  At the high point, you’re looking across into the bowl below Sacagawea and you’re at roughly the same elevation.

Yellow Mule to Buck Ridge – Big Sky

Evening light makes nice photos – the header photo for this website is the Sphinx from Buck Ridge about a mile from the intersection of Yellow Mule and Buck Ridge – but then you’ve got to get back to your car…

The twilight deepened while I frantically clawed and swore at my tire’s Kevlar bead as it clung obstinately to my rear wheel, preventing me from getting at the inner tube to patch the second pinch flat so that I could finish the seven mile decent to the Ousel Falls parking lot.  When I started the ride up the Yellow Mule trail at around 4:00 pm on a beautiful mid-September afternoon, I had I reminded myself there was limited time before sunset, resolving that my goal was just to stretch my legs and check out a new trail after a two-day conference at Big Sky.  Riding all the way to Buck Ridge was not part of the plan.  But as I climbed higher and higher on the beautiful single track, the scenery kept getting better and the warm glow of the evening sun enticed me onwards.  I’d never ridden Yellow Mule, and for years I’d been hearing about the incredible views of the Sphinx from Buck Ridge, so when I realized I could see the ridge up ahead, it seemed it would be a travesty not to continue.

The Sphinx from Buck Ridge

Frog Rock East Face Climbs

Accessed by the new Chestnut Mountain Trail, Frog Rock and all the amazing rock towers beyond offer all kinds of fun exploring and lots of potential for new climbing routes.  Over the last year, I’ve established a few new routes.  This photo is part of a short guide I just completed of Frog Rock’s east face: Frog Rock East Face Guide_2011.

Climbs as of Fall 2011 on "The Dark Side" Wall on the East Face of Frog Rock

Overall, while there’s lots of potential for some great moderate routes in this area – especially on the spires – currently most routes are 5.10 or harder.  However, a notable exception is the “Frogback Ridge” traverse, which is a great adventure for older kids and beginners.  It’s very moderate, while at the same time offering spectacular, exposed climbing with a fun alpine feel…

Kids Ride on Continental Divide

If you want to get a kid psyched about a new outdoor sport, it’s essential to have the right recipe for positive early experiences.  When it comes to mountain biking, the recipe is perfect weather combined with zoomer, non-technical single track with just the right amount of challenge and a spectacular destination.  Unfortunately, you’re not going to find that anywhere around Bozeman.  But if you drive an hour west, to the top of the continental divide on Route 2 between Whitehall and Butte you’ll find the ultimate ride for a kid (or any intermediate rider) who’s ready for something more exciting than the Main Street to the Mountains Trails in town or forest roads like Sourdough Canyon, Moser Creek and Bracket Creek.

High point of the CDT between Rt. 2 and I-90

Chestnut Mountain

Can’t beat Chestnut Mountain during peak flower season in July.

Chestnut Mountain Ridge - July 2011

The views on the way up are great too…

Frog Rock spires from Chestnut Mt Trail

Revenue Flats – August 2011

Revenue is a fun place for a kids climbing outing. You can stroll to the base of the rocks, there are no scree fields and little or no loose rock on the routes. There’s lots of fun exploring to be done among the formations. For the climbs, long pants are recommended as the vertical routes are too hard for kids and the rock is very abrasive on the easier slabby routes.

Lowering off a Spire at Revenue