One of my favorite areas to get outside near Bozeman is Hyalite Canyon. The Canyon is filled with endless adventurous activities in the summer and the winter. The drive is not too far from Bozeman either which makes this beautiful wonderland easily accessible.

In the winter, Hyalite Canyon transforms into an exciting winter playground. If you are taking a trip to Bozeman in the winter, keep reading to find out why you need to add Hyalite Canyon to your trip itinerary.  

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Glide Through The Forest On Cross Country Skis

One of the best areas, in my opinion, to go cross country skiing near Bozeman is in Hyalite Canyon. With miles of free, groomed trails, you can spend hours exploring the peaceful forested area. There are additional trails that aren’t groomed too if you want to be even more adventurous. 

As you ski around the groomed areas, there are even maps next to the trails that will show you where you are so you don’t get lost. Most of the groomed trails are beginner level with a few intermediate trails mixed in.

I usually park at the Blackmore Lake or History Rock Trailhead and ski around that area. It is fairly easy and enjoyable.

In addition, you can also park on the other side of the reservoir and ski all the way to Grotto Falls. This is an excellent option if you want to see a beautiful waterfall while visiting Hyalite Canyon. 

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Bring Out Your Inner Child – Sledding Down The Hills In Hyalite Canyon

If you are traveling with kids, grabbing some sleds or tubes and finding a sledding hill will surely become a highlight of your winter trip to Bozeman. There are many options for exciting sledding hills in Hyalite Canyon. 

With little kids, I would recommend parking at Hyalite Reservoir and sledding on the banks of snow next to the parking lot. There’s not a lot of walking involved and the hills aren’t too steep and scary.

We also took our little ones to the Blackmore Lake parking lot. The trail next to the parking lot is at a decline that is pretty fun for little kiddos. Shown in the bottom right picture.

If you are traveling with bigger kids, my favorite spot is to park at the History Rock Trailhead. Hike straight a little ways and you will find an epic hill!

There is also another longer fun hill if you park at the pullout after you go over the dam.

Hyalite Canyon is filled with hills, so scope it out. You might even find your own hill that no one knows about.

Here’s another option we haven’t personally sled at, but I have a feeling would be excellent. Park at the Hyalite Canyon Reservoir parking lot and hike down the path that follows the lake. You should find some sections of the trail that break off that would be perfect for sledding. I remember hiking in the summer down a fairly steep section that goes straight up the other side. Perfect sledding hill! If you find it, let me know how it goes!

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Go Ice Climbing 

Hyalite Canyon ice climbing is famous and one of the country’s top destinations for the sport. There are over 250 routes in Hyalite Canyon with varying difficulties to choose from.

I am not an ice climber, so I can’t personally speak about how great it is, but due to its popularity, it needed to be mentioned. 

If you are thinking about trying ice climbing and want to take classes, Bozeman has an Ice Festival where you can register for clinics that will teach you to ice climb. This year’s Bozeman Ice Festival is December 11-15, 2024. Click here to learn more and register for a clinic. 

Explore The Winter Wonderland By Hiking Or Snowshoeing

Since a lot of the trails in Hyalite Canyon are used for cross country skiing, you will need to be careful not to disturb the tracks that are groomed into the trails for skis. If you avoid those tracks, you are able to hike many Hyalite Canyon trails.

Here are the top hikes in Hyalite Canyon for the winter:

1. Grotto Falls – This snow packed and easy hike is a great choice for everyone. It is only 2.4 miles (3.9 km) round trip and pretty flat. Since it is popular, you should be able to hike the trail without snowshoes unless there was a lot of snow the night before! 
2. Blackmore Lake – Blackmore Lake is a beautiful hike in the wintertime. You will see some cross country skiers at the beginning of the hike, but the trail will eventually break off and start climbing up the mountain. The 4.3 mile (6.9 km) trail has some elevation gain, so it’s not for the very little hiker, but older kids should be able to do this trail no problem. 
3. Palisade Falls – In the summer, Palisade Falls is an extremely easy and popular hike, but in the winter, it becomes a little less accessible. The road to the falls closes about 2 miles from the trailhead. It is definitely possible to reach Palisade Falls, but you will be adding an extra 4 miles onto the 1.1 miles of normal trail. At 5.1 miles round trip and mostly flat, it is still a worthwhile hike to one of the most famous Hyalite Canyon waterfalls. You may even be able to watch some ice climbers climbing the falls!

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Catch Your Dinner – Ice Fishing Hyalite

In Hyalite Canyon, you will find the reservoir that provides drinking water to Bozeman residents. This lake freezes on top and is full of fish. If you are an ice fishing enthusiast, this is a great spot to dig a hole and catch a fish or two. 

You will need a fishing license to go ice fishing in Montana which you can get at The Montana Fish Wildlife and Parks. There are other regulations too, so be sure to take a minute to read that before grabbing your poles and worms. 

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Hit The Slopes Backcountry Skiing 

Another option for ski enthusiasts is to hit the trails and then ski your way down. You can find varying levels of trails throughout Hyalite Canyon.

For example, I have seen backcountry skiers skiing in the meadows by the History Rock trail while we have been sledding. 

I prefer a ski lift when skiing, but if this is your thing, you can definitely find some great trails in Hyalite Canyon. A good resource to check out for more information would be The Bozeman And Big Sky Backcountry Ski Guide. 

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