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| Home > Montana > Bitter Creek Trail System |
Bitter Creek Trail System
Saturday, December 23, 2023
| Other Names | Virginia Peak, Gallatin National Forest, Yellowstone District, Crazy Mountains, Bear Mountain, Scab Rock Mountain, Goat Mountain, Davey Butte, Shields River Campground, Lodgepole Creek, Smith Creek, Honey Run Trail, Bitter Honey Trail, Lodgepole Trail, Target Rock |
| Last Known Status | Closed For Season |
This trail system has around 25 miles of single track motorcycle trails that offer views of the surrounding mountains and open meadows. The trails have a short season and are usually open for riding around mid June through October, but call first before heading out as the entrance roads can get very muddy and rough during inclement weather.
Free primitive camping can be found at Shields River Campground. A log cabin is also available and is located across from the campground. Reservations are required which can be made online.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | Yes | Montana OHV Permit |
| Dates Open | June 16 - October 14 | |
| Other ATV Stickers Accepted | No | A non-resident temporary registration sticker is required. (As of March 2020, Montana no longer honors stickers from any other states.) |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes | A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles. |
| Noise Limit | Yes | |
| Whip Flags | Not Required | |
| Maximum Vehicle Width | ||
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | |
 ATVs | Prohibited | |
 UTV & SXS | Prohibited | |
 4x4 & Jeeps (registered) | Prohibited | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Prohibited | |
| 2 Stroke Engines | No Restriction | |
| MX Helmet Required | Youth Only | required for persons under 18 by state law (RiderPlanet strongly recommends helmets for all riders.) |
 Camping | Some Areas | (camp in developed sites only) |
 Campfires | ||
| Night Riding | Unknown | |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | vehicles must stay on trail |
| Rule Enforcement |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails |
| Land | National Forest |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | (None) |
| Comment | Crandall Creek Cabin - $35/night |
RATINGS
| Our Rating |  Good |
| Recommended Stay | Full Day |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Wilsall, MT | ||
| Address | Smith Creek Road, Wilsall, MT 59086 | ||
| From: Livingston, MT
1) Take I-90 East to Exit 340 2) Turn left (north) off the exit ramp onto US-89, continue about 30 miles 3) Turn right (north-east) onto Shields River Road, continue about 16 miles 4) Turn left (notth) onto Smith Creek Road, continue about 4 miles 5) Veer left at the fork, continue about another mile. Trailhead is on the right. |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | Gallatin National Forest - Yellowstone Ranger District 5242 Highway 89 South Livingston, MT 59047 (406) 222-1892 mailroom_r1_custer_gallatin@fs.fed.us www.fs.usda.gov |
| Contact Info | Montana Fish, Wildlife And Parks 1420 East 6th Avenue Helena, MT 59620-0701 (406) 444-2950 fwpgen@mt.gov fwp.mt.gov |
| Comment | Montana OHV Permit Info |
ADD PHOTOS
TERRAIN
| Miles Of Trail | 25 | |
| Climate Type | Forest | |
| Elevation | 6200 to 7500 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained | |
| Loose Dirt |  Mostly | |
| Hard Pack |  Some | |
| Sand |  None | |
| Mud | Some | |
| Dust |  Little | |
| Rocks | Some | |
| Trees |  All | |
| Steep Hills | Some | |
| Single Track |  Many | |
| Hazards |  Few | (hazards assumed marked but use caution) |
 Novice | Little | |
 Amateur | Mostly | |
 Expert | Some |
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | Wilsall, MT | |
| Diesel | Wilsall, MT | |
 Water | Wilsall, MT | |
 RV Hookup | Wilsall, MT | |
 RV Disposal | Wilsall, MT | |
| Campground | Wilsall, MT | |
 Conv Store | Wilsall, MT |
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS