College M
Photo: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- 1.2 mi
- round trip
- 305 ft
- climb
- 5,807 ft
- high point
- Out and back
- route
- Jul–Sep
- best months
Is College M open right now?
Closure in the area
There's a closure order in Bozeman Ranger District. It doesn't name College M, so check the source for the area it covers (16 listed).
Sourdough/Bozeman Creek Trailhead and Trail Closure
Agency closure covering Bozeman Ranger District · Order 01-11-06-27-02 · USFS · Bozeman Ranger District
NFSR #1700 South Plateau Road Closure
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Storm Castle Creek Trail #185 Temporarily Closed Due to Storm Damage
Agency closure covering Bozeman Ranger District · Order 01-11-06-26-07 · USFS · Bozeman Ranger District
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Summer Interim Travel Order and Map and Order # 01-11-00-26-02
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · Order 01-11-00-26-02 · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
Hyalite Porcupine Buffalo Horn Winter Interim Travel Order and Map Order Number: #01-11-00-26-01
Agency closure covering Custer Gallatin National Forest · USFS · Custer Gallatin National Forest
As of · Source: USFS · Bozeman Ranger District. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.
College M is a short, easy hike in the Bozeman Ranger District of Custer Gallatin National Forest in Montana, about 1.2 miles long with a one-way climb of 305 feet. The trail is managed by the Forest Service and sits on natural surface, and it is not open to bikes or horses. Summer is the most comfortable time to go. Typical averages from a nearby weather station in Bozeman show July highs around 82°F with lows near 52°F, and June and August run close behind. That station sits roughly 900 feet lower than the trail, so temperatures on the route run cooler. The Bridger Foothills and Bridger Ridge hikes start within a third of a mile, and the College M Shortcut is about 0.2 miles away. For time on the water, the East Gallatin River is about 3 miles off.
Local outfitters
- Yellowstone Safari Company3 mi away
Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.
- Bridger FoothillsHikingPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.1 mi
College M ShortcutHikingPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)0.2 mi- Bridger RidgeHiking0.3 mi
East Gallatin RiverCanoeingPhoto: Mike Cline, Public domain (via Wikimedia Commons)3 mi- The Training WallRock climbing6.1 mi
- Public Service WallRock climbing6.2 mi
- Bozeman DistrictLake fishing6.2 mi
- Bozeman PassRock climbing6.2 mi
Source: Roamze catalog (indexable pages within 10 miles, PostGIS distance)
- Bridger FoothillsHiking · Next doorPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
- College M ShortcutHiking · Next doorPhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Sypes CanyonHiking · ~3 min drivePhoto: Carly Lesser & Art Drauglis from Washington, DC, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Wikimedia Commons)
New World GulchHiking · ~16 min drivePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
East Bridger SouthHiking · ~11 min drivePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Drinking Horse MountainHiking · ~1 min drivePhoto: Don Henise, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Middle Cottonwood TrailHiking · ~6 min drivePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)- Bangtail Divide TrailHiking · ~17 min drive
Chestnut MountainHiking · ~13 min drivePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Painted Hills TrailHiking · ~9 min drivePhoto: Matt Lavin, CC BY-SA 2.0 (via Flickr)
Best time to visit College M
Best months: July–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.
Jan
34° / 15°
11 wet · 9 snow
Feb
37° / 17°
10 wet · 8 snow
Mar
46° / 24°
12 wet · 9 snow
Apr
54° / 30°
13 wet · 6 snow
May
63° / 39°
15 wet · 2 snow
Jun
72° / 46°
15 wet
Jul
82° / 52°
11 wet
Aug
81° / 50°
10 wet
Sep
71° / 42°
9 wet · 1 snow
Oct
57° / 32°
10 wet · 3 snow
Nov
42° / 22°
10 wet · 7 snow
Dec
33° / 14°
11 wet · 9 snow
Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Bozeman Montana State Univ, MT, 5 mi away at 4,913 ft. The station sits about 900 ft lower than this place, so expect it a little cooler here. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.
