Flathead Pass

If you live in Bozeman, Flathead Pass was probably your first trail in the area. Flathead Pass is a point-to-point trail that traverses across the Bridger Mountain Range. The summit has a good view down into the Gallatin Valley. Sunsets from the top are worth the climb. The pass is also the route for power lines to cross the Bridgers. At the summit, you can hear the electricity buzzing overhead. The hardest obstacle is a short but deeply rutted climb about halfway to the summit. The rut crosses the trail at an angle, so lifting a wheel is possible. There is a lot of loose rock in this section. Flathead Pass can all be done in a stock 4x4, but it can easily take multiple attempts to pick the right line. The rest of the trail is uneven hard dirt with rocky sections. On the western side, the road is one vehicle wide but can accommodate a full-size truck. On the eastern side, the road is wide enough for vehicles to pass, and the road is much smoother. Typically, the direction of travel is to start on the west side and travel east. The trail is nearly impassable in the winter, as snowdrifts build up in the two meadows near the top on the west side, and under these conditions can only be driven with a lot of digging or extreme ground clearance.