Bozeman Summer Hiking Series - Kirk Hill Loop's
Looking North into Bozeman with the Bridger Range in the Distance
Sunny Saturday's are made for hiking and with a 4 year old's and 2 year old's social calendar to keep up with, short hikes close to town are perfect for getting a quick fix when birthday parties and play dates are one the daily docket. The Kirk Hill Loops fit the bill to a "T" in this situation. Less than 10 minutes from town, the longest of the loops is under 2 miles and even with a handful of stops to rest little legs we did a 1.6 mile circuit in less than 1:20:00 while gaining over 600ft of elevation.
Peeking through the trees into the Gallatin Valley
The Kirk Hill Recreation Area was made possible by a land donation from the Kirk Family as well as participation from Montana State University. The trail is well established and very well marked, with several informational stations to guide you on your way. There are several maps along the route that even indicate directions for a less strenuous ascent. The trail is narrow however and I would not recommend a stroller for young ones on this particular hike. We used a backpack carrier for our 2 year old, a Baby Bjorn for our infant and our 4 year old had no troubles hiking the entire loop. The trailhead clearly suggests that no pets be allowed on the trail and we saw this wish both obeyed and ignored as we set out.
The snow-capped peaks of the Madison Range to the West
Overall, our family enjoyed this hike. The access is quick and easy from Bozeman, with all paved access to the trailhead. There are three different loops to choose from with varying degrees of distance and difficulty, serveral wildflowers and birds along the way. We recommend having a picnic lunch at the trailhead before heading up or having a lunch at the overlook to the Madison Range on the western edge of Loop 2....remember, if you pack it in-pack it out, don't leave a mess for the next family to experience.
Stay tuned for the next hike in my Summer Hiking Series, they will be longer excursions to some high country lakes, remote mountain streams and other destinations you may want to leave the kids home for.
All smiles after an hour of "Follow the Leader" on the Trail
All best,
______________________
Jason Frey
Agent
PureWest, Inc.
jason.frey@purewestproperties.com
http://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfreylifewideopen
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