Hyalite Canyon

Hyalite Canyon is a mountain biking route in Montana's Custer Gallatin National Forest, within the Bozeman Ranger District. It sits about 10 miles from the small community of Kotke, and the Forest Service manages the land. The route is a short one at about 5 miles, with a low point of 6,671 feet and a high of 6,990 feet. The climb totals 560 feet, and the descent runs longer at about 815 feet. The steepest stretch comes at about 1.7 miles into the route, where the grade reaches 17 percent. That makes the approach and the return worth considering separately. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from a nearby weather station run from highs around 78°F in July to about 68°F in September, with July and August lows in the low 40s. Camping and trail access sit right along the route. The Fr 62 Upper Hyalite Creek Road 038b campground and the Hyalite Canyon Road cross-country ski route are both about 0.2 miles away, and the Chisholm Bay mountain biking area is about 0.4 miles off. Climbers can find Swamp Rock about 3 miles away.