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Mystic Lake

RECOMMENDED ROUTE
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
 4.3 (15)
  1. Areas
  2. MT
  3. …Southwestern Montana
  4. …Bozeman
  5. Sourdough Canyon/Bozeman Creek
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“An intermediate out-and-back with an uphill climb to Mystic Lake and a rewarding downhill cruise. ”

Ben Stevens
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Map Key

20.4

Miles

32.8

KM

5%

Singletrack

6,469' 1,972 m

High

5,279' 1,609 m

Low

1,473' 449 m

Up

1,472' 449 m

Down

3%

Avg Grade (2°)

9%

Max Grade (5°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Unknown

Family Friendly The trail is wide with a vault toilet at the parking lot. The stream is not far up from the trailhead and makes for a great spot for kids to stick their toes in.

Overview

An easy-access trail that follows Bozeman Creek along Sourdough Canyon Trail. This trail is an out-and-back, 20-mile trip that provides a more accessible route to Mystic Lake than the more northerly, Mystic Lake route that uses New World Gulch Trail #50.

Need to Know

Take plenty of water as this can be a hot ride in summer.

Description

From the parking lot at Sourdough Canyon Trailhead, follow the Sourdough Canyon Trail for several miles until it continues onto FS Road 979. Follow this Forest Service road for around four miles until it crosses over Bozeman Creek.

From there, you'll continue a steady, uphill climb along a two-lane road until you crest the hill at Mystic Lake.

The reward for the 10-mile climb is a 10-mile downhill cruise. Use caution and watch for other riders on their way up as this is a popular trail.

History & Background

Sourdough Creek provides the city of Bozeman with 40% of their drinking water. Any visitors, especially with dogs, should tread carefully on the Sourdough Canyon Trail and respect all signage.

Contacts

Land Manager: City of Bozeman - Parks and Recreation

Shared By:

Ben Stevens with improvements by Travis Kent
Full Details

Trail Ratings

  4.3 from 15 votes

#1

in Sourdough Canyon/Bozeman Creek

#1163

Overall
  4.3 from 15 votes
5 Star
53%
4 Star
33%
3 Star
7%
2 Star
7%
1 Star
0%
Recommended Route Rankings

#1

in Sourdough Canyon/Bozem…

#8

in Montana

#1,163

Overall
15 Views Last Month
9,903 Since Aug 7, 2016
Easy/Intermediate Easy/Intermediate
29%
21%
50%
0%
0%
0%
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Photos

Looking down the Bridger Creek drainage.
Aug 8, 2016 near Bozeman, MT

1 Comment

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Weather

Current Trail Conditions

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Check-Ins

Sep 4, 2024
Wendy Harrison
My first time biking that route. I had hiked to Mystic Lake via New World Gulch, so it was nice to see it from the other side. A great workout. — 2h 30m
Jun 5, 2023
Atsuko Ohtake
Jul 7, 2022
duco chapelle
Oct 15, 2021
Head Banger
Jun 22, 2021
Zain Noordin
Jul 17, 2019
Eric Harrill
20.4mi
Jul 14, 2019
Cael Brockmeyer
20.4mi — 2h 35m
Jul 1, 2019
Jon Corwin
Epic downhill back 21.4mi — 3h 00m

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