Tanner’s way

Natural Surface Trail - Big Sky

With the consent and encouragement of Kim and John Kircher, the Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association (SWMMBA) in conjunction with the Big Sky Community Organization (BSCO) is looking to construct a foot and bike, two way traffic connector trail that will lead from Little Coyote, through a Big Sky Owners Association (BSOA) easement along highway 64, on to 400’ of DOT easement, and onto the Kircher’s property where it will run for approximately 1.1 miles. The trail will ultimately tie into the North Fork Road just south of the Ridge Road junction. In total the current proposal calls for 1.6 miles (+/-10%) of single track trail construction. This project began in Summer 2022.

The Big Sky community in the 2019 Master Trails Plan identified the North Fork connection as a top 5 priority for increasing user connectivity and accessibility within the greater Big Sky area. Not only will this trail serve as additional recreation to foot and non-motorized wheeled travel, but also as a means of greatly reducing vehicle traffic within the Ridge and North Fork Road corridors. As Big Sky resident and visitor numbers continue to increase the North Fork connector will further assist reducing local vehicle traffic and reliance. 

This project will also encourage mountain bikers and hikers to no longer return to the Big Sky Meadow via Lone Mountain Ranch property which has become increasingly prevalent over the past few seasons. Through the further separation of stock and other user groups, we can ensure both trail safety and cooperation of all recreation types throughout the North Fork trail corridor. 

Support This Project

Progress:

Every donation counts, this is a major improvement for the trails experience in Big Sky and we need your help to make it happen! Check progress towards our goal and encourage your friends to donate to support this effort.

Phase One:

This is the main focus for Summer 2022, to build a trail that spans the length of the Kircher property, from the North Fork FS Road to their property boundary along HWY 64.  The approximate trail layout (red line), and approximate budget, are pictured below.

Phase Two:

This will be the connection between the singletrack end, and the rest of town.  After extensive conversations with Lone Mountain Ranch, and the Big Sky Owners Association,  SWMMBA has worked out an easement with the BSOA, but have not gained permission to build a trail across the Lone Mountain Ranch property. With help from the Big Sky Community Organization, the research has been done to build trail in the DOT right of way.  This requires a hard surface trail (asphalt).  BSOA has received a quote for $12,500 to survey the area to begin looking at what this trail would look like, the timeline on this project is unknown, with the possibility of starting in 2024 if the funding is available.