Powder Hogs

Fat-biking the Custer Gallatin. 

Dedicated cyclists, injured skiers, and those looking for entertainment between big powder days have a new winter-sport opportunity: fat-bikes, or wide-tire bicycles with low tire pressure. The bikes allow users to ride on compacted snow surfaces, making mountain biking a year-round sport. Starting this winter, 470 miles of groomed and ungroomed snowmobile trail on the Custer Gallatin National Forest will be available for fat-bike use. These newly available routes are in addition to other non-ski trails currently available to bicycles in the winter. 

Recommended trails near Bozeman:
Moser Jump Off Road #6210 in Hyalite
Olsen Creek Road #6944 in the Bangtails
Fairy Lake Road #74 in the Bridgers 

Recommended trails near West Yellowstone:
Madison Arm Trail #919 and
Horse Butte Trail #928

While all groomed and ungroomed snowmobile trails will be open to winter bike use, bikers may want to avoid high-traffic snowmobile trails, including:

Two Top Loop Trail #920 near West Yellowstone
South Plateau Trail #917 near West Yellowstone
Buck Ridge Trail #906 near Big Sky 

Also new for the winter of 2015-16 is the Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks Snowmobile Trail Pass, required for groomed snowmobile trail by snowmobiles, dirt bikes converted to snow bikes, and fat-tire bicycles.

Please be aware that the use of fat bikes is not permitted on marked and groomed ski trails, including the Bozeman/Sourdough Creek Trail, the Hyalite ski trail system, and the Rendezvous trail system in West Yellowstone. To stay safe on the trail please stay to the right, wear reflective gear, use common hand signals, and give a friendly wave to fellow users on the trail. Contact your local Ranger District office for more information.