Goose Creek Lollipop 12.55 miles

Overview:

THIS ROUTE CAN NO LONGER BE DONE AS SOME OF THIS LAND (the diagonal track on the southeast side of the loop on the map below) IS NOW UNDER PRIVATE OWNERSHIP. Anyone wanting to ride the Bear Canyon Loop must do the entire 16 mile loop, which goes further east than the map below. See “Goose Creek to Bear Canyon Loop – 16 miles” page. This area can also be accessed from Bear Canyon or Newman trailhead off Trail Creek.

This route was similar to our posted “Goose Creek Ponds Loop 16 mile” route but just after the forest service cabin, a right turn (no longer available) was made, going through some trees and then a large meadow, making the ride about 3 miles shorter. Like the ponds loop, this route offers a wide variety of forest service road and open meadows, with some good climbing but nothing very technical, and, a jaunt past some old cabins. It misses out on some fun zig zag trail right after the cabin, but the pretty meadow is a good trade-off. Some water may be available at various creeks though some may be seasonal. Water can also be obtained from the ponds but because of muck you may have to walk in with a bowl rather than ride up to them. This trail is best under dry conditions as it can get very muddy and almost impassible in early Spring especially in the ponds area. Best done late June, July or later.

GPS Tracks: can be uploaded from the View Details link on the map below

Distance: 12.55 miles

Elevation Gain: 1740 feet

Technicality: Moderate

Difficulty: Easy to moderate (some climbing)

Parking: Good gravel road to trailhead. Room for several rigs depending on how many hikers are also there. Room to back out of parking spots.

Shared Use: Motorized allowed on the forest service roads – generally low traffic

Facilities: Outhouse? (confirm)

Directions: I-90 to exit 316 Trail Creek Rd. South on Trail Creek Rd for 3 miles. Right onto Goose Creek road, go 2 miles to trail head.

Trail Navigation: *** ALL MILEAGE IS APPROXIMATE. YOU ARE RESPONSIBLE FOR YOUR OWN NAVIGATING ***

Water: Bear Creek

Season: Area of much snow with a short riding season. Ponds section muddy in Spring.

Timing:

Notables:

A lot of variation available as the Bear Canyon Loop trail is accessible from not only Goose Creek but from the Newman trailhead off of Trail Creek, Bear Canyon Rd, and the Chestnut trail.

Photos:

Videos: 

Views:  View of part of Bozeman and MSU from the west side of the loop up high