Bridger Range

The Bridger Range, also known as the Bridger Mountains, is a subrange of the Rocky Mountains in southwestern Montana in the United States. The range runs mostly in a north–south direction between Bozeman and Maudlow. It is separated from the Gallatin Range to the south by Bozeman Pass; from the Horseshoe Hills to the west by Dry Creek; from the Crazy Mountains to the east by the Shields River valley; and from the Big Belt Mountains to the north by Sixteen Mile Creek. The highest point in the Bridger Range is Sacagawea Peak (9,596 feet (2,925 m)), which is visible to the northeast from Bozeman.

For the mountain range in Wyoming, see Bridger Mountains (Wyoming).
Bridger Range
West face of the Bridger Range
Highest point
PeakSacagawea Peak[1]
Elevation9,596 ft (2,925 m)
Geography
Location within the state of Montana
CountryUnited States
StateMontana
Range coordinates45°53.3′N 110°57.5′W
Parent rangeRocky Mountains

Although the range is mostly in Gallatin County, a small portion extends into Park County. Bozeman Pass, at an elevation of 5,712 feet (1,741 m), is a narrow pass that lies between Bozeman and Livingston. The entire range is within Gallatin National Forest.

History

The range is named after Jim Bridger, a mountain man of the 19th century who pioneered the Bridger Trail through mountains in southern Wyoming into the Bighorn Basin in 1864.

On January 10, 1938, Northwest Airlines Flight 2 crashed in the Bridger Mountains, killing all 10 aboard. This was the first fatal crash of a Northwest Airlines aircraft.

Prominent peaks

The most prominent peaks in the Bridgers include:

East face of Bridger Range
Northwest face of Bridger Range

Recreation

Skiing

The Bridger Range is also home to the ski area Bridger Bowl. With the first rope tow installed in 1951, Bridger Bowl quickly became a popular mountain with the locals. The area has a top elevation of 8700 feet and a base elevation of 6100 feet. On average the ski area receives 350 inches (890 cm) of snow every year. Backcountry skiing is also very popular in the Bridgers, with snow being available on peaks such as Sacagawea from early November until late May/early June. Beginning in the 2008–2009 ski season, Bridger Bowl started to allow backcountry travel from the ski area via access gates on the northern and southern boundaries.

Hiking

Though many hiking trails exist, Sacagawea Peak is a favorite hiking area in the Bridgers. The hike is a short but strenuous 2.2-mile (3.5 km) one-way trek through pine forest, alpine tundra and scree fields to the top of Sacagawea Peak. The Bridger Ridge Run is a 20-mile (32 km) race which takes place in mid-August. The race follows the ridgeline from Fairy Lake to the southern end of the range.

  • Images of the Bridger Range
  • Bridger Range as seen from Bozeman, January 2009
  • Ross Peak, Bridger Range, April 2010
  • Sacagawea Peak (right) and Naya Nuki Peak (left), April 2010
  • View of the Bridger Range looking south from the summit of Sacagawea Peak

See also

Notes
  1. "Bridger Range". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  2. "Sacagawea Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  3. "Hardscrabble Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  4. "Naya Nuki Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  5. "Saddle Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  6. "Ross Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  7. "Mount Baldy". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
  8. "Bridger Peak". Geographic Names Information System. United States Geological Survey.
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