Hiking Sacagawea Peak
Sacagawea Peak is the tallest peak in the Bridger Range of Montana. This mountain range makes a beautiful backdrop for the city of Bozeman below. A popular but beautiful attraction, about an hour from Bozeman, is the hiking trail to Sacagawea Peak. Hiking Sacagawea Peak makes for the perfect get away for someone trying escape the city. It’s a rewarding hike with great 360° views from the top.
Quick Facts
- Distance: 4.5 Mile round trip
- Difficulty: Moderate – 1,975 ft Elevation gain
- Highlights: Great 360° view from the top
- Know Before You Go: Rough road to trailhead, 4×4 recommended. Dogs must be on leash
How to Get to Sacagawea Peak Trailhead:
The trailhead for hiking Sacagawea Peak is at the Fairy Lake Campground in Wilsall, Montana. When looking for directions use address: Fairy Lake Campground, Wilsall, MT 59086
From Bozeman Montana, take MT-86 N (Bridger Dr/Bridger Canyon Dr) north for 20 miles. Turn left onto Fairy Lake Rd. Stay on this dirt road for about 6.5 miles. The road will end at Fairy Lake Campground.
Our Experience Hiking Sacagawea Peak
Mountains in the Bridger Range make the backdrop to the city of Bozeman, Montana. While we were spending time in town and at the Bozeman Skatepark we learned that the tallest peak in the Bridger Range was called Sacagawea Peak so we had to check it out. Katie’s foot was in the midst of an injury, so I recruited my friend Justice to hike this mountain with me.
The drive from Bozeman to the trailhead at Fairy Lake campground took about an hour. The last few miles of the dirt road were pretty rough – I would recommend a high clearance vehicle. From the parking area the trail enters the woods on a nice trail. The trees are dense at the beginning of the trail.
As your hiking Sacagawea Peak, the path maintains a steady uphill the entire hike. And we recognized this almost immediately. At times, the path gets narrow while ascending the side of the mountain.
Each switch back rewarded us with a view of the elevation gains we made along the way. A rewarding feeling it is to summit a mountain for the first time.
Hiking the steep mountainside gave us a chance to see and appreciate the size of the mountains and rock formations that we were exploring. The jagged granite mountain tops jutting out from the Earth made for very dramatic mountain tops.
The trail continues up hill towards the tree line, continuing on switchbacks and revealing more jagged topped mountains in the distance.
The moon was out the day we hiked, and it seemed to be stuck on the side of the jutting rock face of the mountain for much of the hike.
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We eventually surpassed the tree line and approached the Sacagawea Pass. Seeing this pass made the challenge ahead very clear, there was a lot of elevation gain and a lot of switchbacks. Determination pushed us forward and the reward of lunch at the top of the mountain was a driving force.
We continued up the mountain and made it to the top of Sacagawea Pass, where we celebrated with left over pizza! We had lunch against the large pile of rocks at the top of the pass. The pile of rocks helped to block the wind.
The view from the top is really a 360° view in every direction. You can see into the heart of the Bridger Range, as well as a good view of Bozeman. A little too far to see details, but good none the less. The binoculars made gazing into the distance fun.
From the top of the saddle you can choose to go to the top of Sacagawea Peak to the East, or you can make it to the top of Pomp Peak to the West.
Justice and I decided to head back down the pass after lunch. The trail down was much faster, but hard on the knees. After we made it back to the trees and forest we wanted to take the side trail to get a good look at Fairy Lake. The side trail was not a long detour, so it made a good little side trip. And we were both excited to see the peaceful, beautiful Fairy Lake.
Overall, this hike was a great workout with a rewarding view. The rock formations are dramatic and the jagged mountains make for beautiful scenery the entire hike. There was a steady amount of traffic on the trail, both dogs and people. So if you’re looking to hike to find solitude I would not recommend this particular hike.
Camping Near Bozeman Montana
Bozeman Montana is a great place to visit and explore. If you’re in the area and looking for a place to camp then you should check out the camping at Hyalite Canyon. The Hyalite Canyon road is a beautiful drive and fun longboard ride, and the reservoir at the top of hill is beautiful. There are not a ton of designated camping spots but we were able to find a few. They have a 14 day limit, so you can stay here for two weeks for free!
More in Montana
Montana is a beautiful state with beautiful scenery all around. There is so much to see and endless outdoor adventures to be had. To see some of the adventures we had while in Montana, check out these articles:
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