Trail Difficulty – Intermediate
Trail Length – 12.8 miles
Trail Time Share – No
Ride Type: Out & Back
Ascent – 2265 ft.
Descent – 2264 ft.
Min Elevation – 5403 ft.
Max Elevation – 6966 ft.
High Resolution Topo Maps
This is a great trail for beginners and intermediates alike. It uses a shared lower parking lot with New World Gulch trail. The Bear Canyon trail starts south of the parking lot up a short dirt road. The trail begins with a short but steep hill that continues to parallel the creek for another mile. You will come up to a junction where you can go straight (Mt. Ellis) or right to go up to Bear Lakes. Go right. The trail will continue to climb at a comfortable pitch. After the second lake, you will have another trail option to connect back to the original bear canyon trail (straight) or continue up a brief steep hill to the final high mountain lake. Avoid riding this trail shortly after a rainstorm or early season when the snow is still melting. The soil in the area attaches to your tires with the strength of a spider web to the face. Good luck trying to continue your ride. The dirt here can also be very powdery when dry, so don’t be scared of not-deal conditions.
Driving Directions:
From Bozeman, take I-90 east towards Livingston and take Bear Canyon exit, this will be the first exit east of Bozeman. Turn right on Bozeman Trail Road and drive another ¼ mile to Bear Canyon Road. Turn left and drive approximately 3 ½ miles to the trailhead parking area on the left at the end of the road. There is additional parking is about ¼ mile back down the road on the right (trailhead for New World Gulch).
Google Maps Driving Directions (IOS and Android compatible)
Bear Canyon Parking / Trailhead