Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Information
Big Sky Chamber of Commerce ( 800-943-4111; www.bigskychamber.com ; West
Fort Meadows) For a calendar of events or hiking handouts.
Big Sky Resort (
800-548-4486; www.bigskyresort.com ) Also has information.
BIG SKY TO WEST YELLOWSTONE
After passing the Gallatin Canyon, Hwy 191 briefly enters the far northwestern corner of
Yellowstone National Park (there is no entry booth here). The paved route makes for a
great bike ride; it's less traveled and notably less crowded than the main park loops.
Several remote park trails offer quiet day hikes and ambitious multiday backpacking
trips across the Gallatin range to the Mammoth region. Specimen Creek Trailhead leads
to Gallatin's petrified forest, created 50 million years ago when lava, ash and mudflows
swallowed trees and other vegetation. The Bighorn Pass and Fawn Pass Trailheads
beckon with more good hiking and hot-springs soaks and then the road leaves the headwa-
ters of the Gallatin River at Divide Lake. The Madison Range and Taylor Peaks of the Lee
Metcalf Wilderness lie to the west.
About 12 miles before reaching West Yellowstone you'll see the turn-off to Hebgen
Lake (Hwy 287).
Activities
Hiking & Backpacking
Hiking trails - all open to mountain biking - head into the mountains along numerous
creek drainages from both sides of US 191. Trails are marked on Beartooth Publishing's
Bozeman & Big Sky's Essential Dayhikes map, available at local sports stores, and they
also produce a mountain-bike version.
A favorite dining and hiking combo is to hike up to the fire lookout at the top of the
Cinnamon Creek Trail (6.6 miles return, gaining 2675ft), then have lunch or dinner at
the Cinnamon Lodge, opposite the trailhead across US 191.
The most well-trodden hikes are in the north half of the valley. The popular 6-mile
round-trip hike to Lava Lake offers decent trout fishing. The trailhead is at tight turnoff at
a dangerous curve in Hwy 191. The trail climbs about 1600ft, crossing Cascade Creek
several times to meadows and then continues up more switchbacks. Good campsites flank
Lava Lake's northeast shore, but fires are banned within 0.5 miles of the lake.
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