Cross-Country Ski Guide to Livingston, MT

Paradise Valley is a wide glacially formed valley dissected length-wise by the Yellowstone River, which flows north from Yellowstone Lake in the heart of Yellowstone National Park. To the west, the Gallatin Range rolls up from the river, the highest peaks hidden from most places on the valley floor. To the east, the Absaroka Mountains jut ruggedly into the Montana sky providing a spectacular backdrop to a drive through the valley. To the north, Livingston, Montana caps the valley and adds cultural, as well as natural resources, to paradise.

The mountains around Livingston, Montana provide miles and miles of cross-country skiing trails to suit any level of skier. Climb steep mountainsides or kick and glide along mellow roads. For this guide we’ve focused on Livingston ski trails suitable for beginning skiers and families that will still thrill experienced skiers.

Suce Creek Ski Trail

Description: This trail gets little use given its proximity to Livingston and is a hidden gem. The trail skirts through mixed conifers and follows Suce Creek, then Lost Creek.

Follow the trail about 2.5 miles from the trailhead until reaching a gate and a Wilderness Boundary sign. Enjoy views into the Absarokas and across the Paradise Valley before returning to the trailhead the way you came.

Location: Drive south of Livingston on Highway 89 for 3 miles. Turn left on East River Road and continue another 2.7 miles. Turn left again, on Suce Creek Rd. Follow the dirt and gravel road 1.5 miles to a Forest Service access sign and turn right. It is 1.5 miles to the trailhead, but you may need to park along the side of the road a little ways up and ski to the trailhead. Because it passes through private property, be sure to stay on the road.

Distance: 5 miles round trip

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Maps: Livingston Peak USGS Quad

 

Insider Tip: Timber Trails on Park Street in Livingston is the place to go to rent or buy cross-country skis, ski wax, winter clothing, guidebooks and everything else you need for a foray into the nivean world.

Mill Creek Ski Trails

Location: Drive just over 15 miles south of Livingston on Highway 89 to Mill Creek Rd. (between mile markers 38 and 37). Turn left and travel 11.25 miles until the plowed road ends at a gate (the gate is locked on January 1, before that you can drive as far as conditions allow). Park in the plowed area on the left.

 

Snowbank Ski Trail

Description: This tour (on a dirt road) winds through clear cuts and heavily treed areas as it climbs to an area with great views.

Ski past the gate on the road and immediately turn right toward the Snowbank Campground. Cross the bridge and sidestep the gate. Follow the logging road uphill 1- 3 miles through spruce, fir and pine forest.

Towards the top of the hill, look across the Mill Creek drainage to spot Arrow Peak and into the Absarokas for a view of Mount Cowen and The Pyramid.

Return the way you came. The ski down is fast and fun, but technically easy and requires little effort on the skiers’ part.

Distance: 2-6 miles round trip

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Maps: Knowles Peak USGS Quad

Insider Tip: Know before you go. Log onto the Gallatin National Forest Avalanche Center’s website for current avalanche, snowpack and mountain weather information, as well as basic avalanche education.

Passage Creek Falls Ski Trail

Description: The first part of the tour travels along a road used by skiers, snowmobilers, walkers and dogsledders, but is often uncrowded as it parallels Mill Creek. Ski past the gate at the parking area, and up the road 2.4 miles. Look for a big pull-through parking area on the right with a trailhead sign at the south end.

From the Passage Creek Falls trailhead, the trail skirts through trees, small meadows and past volcanic scree slopes before heading up a short hill, then down another, to a majestic waterfall.

Distance: 9.6 miles round trip

Difficulty: Moderate to difficult

Maps: Knowles Peak, The Pyramid, and Mt. Wallace USGS Quads

 

Big Creek Ski Trail

Description: This narrow, but mellow trail follows Big Creek as it larks down the valley. Often, the east side of the Gallatin Range doesn’t receive as much snow as the west side or the Absarokas across the Paradise Valley. But, if the snow is adequate for skiing, you’ll almost be guaranteed of having the place to yourself.

 

After 1 mile from the trailhead, you?ll reach a signed turnoff to the Cliff Creek Trail. Continue on the Big Creek Trail to the Bark Cabin Trail at 4 miles or the Mist Creek Trail at 5.5 miles. Turn around wherever the mood strikes.

Location: Drive south of Livingston, Montana on Highway 89 to Big Creek Road?28.6 miles. Turn right and drive 3.4 miles to where the road forks; stay left towards the Big Creek Station. It’s another 1.6 miles to a parking area for Mountain Sky Guest Ranch on the left and a bridge crossing Big Creek. Either park here or drive another 1.1 miles to the trailhead parking and a sign for Big Creek Trailhead.

Distance: 2 miles to Cliff Creek Trail, 8 miles to Bark Cabin Trail, 11 miles to Mist Creek Trail roundtrip.

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Maps: Lewis Creek and The Sentinel USGS Quads

Bear Creek Ski Trails

Location: Drive 51 miles south on Highway 89 to Gardiner. Just before crossing the Yellowstone Bridge veer left towards Jardine. Follow the red dirt road 5.4 miles to Jardine and then turn right over the bridge in the middle of town. Take Bear Creek Road up 1.7 miles and veer left into the parking area.

Insider tip: Stop by the Tumbleweed Bookstore and Cafe in Gardiner on your way to the Bear Creek Trails. It’s a cozy place to enjoy fair-trade coffee and espresso drinks, eat breakfast or pick up lunch, and browse new and used books.

Bear Creek Ski Trail

Description: This tour follows the Forest Service road to its terminus at the Bear Creek trailhead, passing through fir, spruce and pine forest.

The groomed and tracked trail is also used by snowmobiles to access the backcountry, but there never seem to be too many at once, and less on weekdays. The Bear Creek Trail is a good entry point for loops with other trails in the area.

Distance: 8 miles round trip

Difficulty: Easy to moderate

Maps: Gardiner and Ash Mountain USGS Quads

 

Pine Creek and Bear Fork Ski Trails

Description: These trails wind in and out of meadows and forested areas and provide nice views as well as interesting scenery.

From the parking area ski back up to the road and continue in the direction you were driving (left). As you round the first corner look for the wooden Pine Creek Trail sign on the right.

Follow the steep trail up towards Schultz Knob for .5 miles before the climb begins to mellow.

The Pine Creek Trail ends abruptly after 1.5 miles at the signed Bear Fork Trail. Turn left and glide all the way down to the Bear Creek Trail at 2.25 miles. Turn left and follow the Bear Creek Trail back to the parking area, return the way you came, or climb back up one of the other trails.

Distance: 5 miles out and back, or 4.5 miles if looped with Bear Creek Trail

Difficulty: Moderate

Maps: Gardiner and Ash Mountain USGS Quads

 

For an in-depth guide to cross-country ski trails in the Livingston area pick up a copy of Melynda Harrison’s book, Ski Trails of Southwest Montana: 30 of the Best Cross Country and Snowshoe Trails Around Big Sky, Bozeman and Paradise Valley. Available locally at Timber Trails in Livingston and online at http://www.shop.reelactionmedia.com/skitrailssouthwestMT

About the Author:

Melynda Harrison is a writer, naturalist, wife, mom, cross-country ski enthusiast, hiker, reader, knitter, jungle gym, napkin, Malamute lover, kid hauler and head over heels about being outside with her family. To read more about Melynda’s outdoor adventures visit her blog, Your Wild Child or her web site.