The view out the cabin window was nothing short of spectacular. Sitting perched at an elevation overlooking the Gallatin Valley, the city of Bozeman, and most importantly the Bridger Mountains; aptly named by the locals, “The Bridger’s” or “Bridger Range.” A spine that shoots up from the plains with a sheer drop on either side and a ridge that beckons the call for exploration. A sunset glow pierces the cabin window with the fire outside ablaze. The orange glow glissades down the edges of the range, calling out an invitation for a view of the sunset.

The evening crept in and the fire glowed, with seemingly the only light left in the world beyond that the flicker of the evening stars. Although my home base of Bozeman was adjacent to the Bridger’s, I’d rented a Forest Service cabin above town for the weekend. A quick glance from the fire towards the direction of the range warmed the heart and my smile widened with my mind full of plans for the following day in the Bridger’s. While the cabin wasn’t actually in the Bridger Range, the view that it provided of the range served as inspiration for countless adventures to follow.

Into the Bridger Range

Waking up early, I started the drive towards the Bridger’s – the cabin was a good hour drive or so away from the trailhead. With a morning coffee and a bumpy dirt road spilling about as much coffee as I was able to drink, and with views of Ross Peak inviting me towards the top of the range, I shifted into 5th gear and eventually made it to the trailhead – in the afternoon heat after taking care of a few morning errands. I laced up my shoes, threw the backpack strap over my shoulder and took off up a beautiful trail lined with aspen trees following a creek. Not long after I came across a snake, a rubber boa. Brown in color with a silky smooth texture on its skin.

I glanced up the trail further, wondering what else is was in store. The legs burned with every step up this switchbacked trail without a single level spot. Hiking my way up and up and up, I crossed the creek numerous times attempting to jump and dodge the water. But a quick slip off a wet rock and the cool spring fed creek rushed into my shoes and through my socks, chilling my feet. After about four miles or so, I was greeted with a large opening where wildflowers coated the foreground like a painting no artist could replicate. Reds, yellows, and purples grabbed my attention as I continued to ascend higher and deeper into the Bridger Range.

The trail seemed to be coming to an end, and a distant peak seemed easily reachable with every step forward, but I was mistaken. The trail took a left turn and began to do half mile switchbacks up the steep slope to the saddle. The trail continued down the ridge and onto a foothill further north, where a side trail jaunted up to the peak, 400 feet higher or so. I decided to tag the peak, and up I went crawling, using my hands to hike up about ten seconds, to then break for 20. The arduous and strenuous climb came to an end with the arrival of the mountain ridgeline with panoramic views of the big sky state.

There was no better view in the world then perched on the ridge above the Gallatin Valley to the west and the Crazy Mountains to the east. However, after some time enjoying the scenery, the worry of the dark hike back to the car began to creep in. With the headlamp now illuminating my path, I made my way down the talus slope before one last glance north, towards the highest peak in the range. I vowed at that moment to return tomorrow and attempt a sunrise sprint to its summit from the backside of the range. I made quick work of the hike back in the dark, motivated to get to my campsite before tomorrow’s predawn hike.

My campsite for the night wasn’t however, at the trailhead – it required a drive to the backside of the range, a drive that is nothing short of rough. One potential tire popping rock after the next, the seven-mile rock crawl took its toll on my Subaru. I eventually made it however, and prepped a fire under the evening stars with plans to cowboy camp close enough to catch some its heat.

After getting settled, I was able to catch a couple hours of sleep only to be woken by a group of curious mountain goats. They scurried around the area, smelling the fire, scratching at the dirt in and around where I was sleeping. One curious goat even gave my left toe a nudge to check out what I was. Shortly thereafter, the 4:30am alarm went off and my bag was packed, again with the headlamp lighting my way for the 2.5-mile ascent up to the highest peak of the range. The stars flickered above, the sun not yet cresting the horizon.

The summit push was a fun event with short switchbacks leading the way to the top of the peak. Finally at the summit, I had made it with plenty of time to not only watch the soft glow of the sunrise begin, but to also make a quick cup of coffee to really enjoy the moment. I laid out the foam pad and lit the stove, its sound breaking the silence of an otherwise quiet morning. I climbed about, exploring the talus ridge once the hands warmed – equally enjoying the hot cup of coffee and the view of the rising sun. While I’d explored a lot of the Bridger Range over the past 2 days, this was to be only the beginning.

After the Summit

The rest of the summer and the next two seasons involved wearing out the map and exploring more of the Bridger Range, hiking every trail that I could. When you explore one destination throughout the year, one is able to find absolute beauty in every day and through every season, and sometimes you discover more than what you might have bargained for. The mutual startle of the black bear up on the ridge one evening to the growl of a mountain lion in the distance on a morning trail run. Whether it was the wildflowers of spring and early summer or the crisp weather and clear views of fall however – it seemed there was always something calling me back to the Bridgers.

Need to Know

Information

The Bridger Mountains sit in Custer-Gallatin National Forest. Bozeman, Belgrade, Livingston, and Big Sky are close by and make this a popular outdoor recreation area. With its highest peak soaring over 9,600 feet, the challenging terrain makes this a relatively untouched beauty in Southwest Montana.

Best Time to Go

The range has no closed season. The Bridger’s offer a ski season in early December that runs until early April. After that the summer season of hiking begins. For the best snow it varies monthly and for peak and prime summer activities, July to early September offers the best weather.

Getting There

Interstate 90 runs through the cities of Belgrade and Bozeman, offering many roads from there with which to access your desired trail. The same interstate links Livingston where you can jump onto Bridger Canyon Road and get to the backside of the range.

Maps and Books

No incursion into the range is advised without a detailed map. National Geographic has a detailed topographic map to get you to any destination within the mountains. And like anywhere you venture, the history of the place is always a pursuit worth discovering. Jim Bridger: Mountain Man – a book about the trapper the mountains are named after, is worth every page. The guidebook Hiking Montana offers information on additional hiking in the state, and for getting to and from trailheads the Delorme Montana Atlas & Gazetteer can be helpful.

Editor's Note: This article originally appeared in Issue 44 of TrailGroove Magazine. You can read the original article here for additional photos.