Back
Bridger Canyon: Highway 86, Bridger Range, Montana
Photo: Mike Cline

Drives Montana Bozeman, Big Sky and Paradise Valley

Bridger Canyon: Highway 86

MT 86, Bridger Canyon Road, Bridger Drive · Bozeman → Wilsall

Leisurely35 mi1 hr 10 min2,300 ft climbHigh point ≈ 6,400 ftOne way
Scan to drive it in CarvePoint a phone's camera here. It opens ready to drive.
Drive it in Carve, free

Opens this route in the app, or where to get it.

The drive

Montana Highway 86 begins in downtown Bozeman and runs north up Bridger Canyon along the southern and then eastern flank of the Bridger Range. Bridger Bowl Ski Area sits to the west of the road.

Further on, near Sedan, the forest gives way to grassland and the road levels out heading north-northeast. It ends at US-89 a few miles north of Wilsall. The canyon curves come first, then open country.

The road is plowed through the winter for the ski area.

Along the way

  1. Bozeman
  2. Bridger Bowl
  3. Wilsall (US-89)
Elevation
2,300 ft of climbing · high point ≈ 6,400 ft
BozemanWilsall
Curves
Mostly gentle curves
BozemanWilsall
GentleHairpins

Good to know

  • MDT does not list Highway 86 as seasonally closed.
  • The road is plowed through the winter for Bridger Bowl.

Open all year, weather permitting. Roads close for snow, fire, storms and repairs: before you set off, check Montana 511 (MDT).

Questions about this drive

How long does Bridger Canyon Highway 86 take?

Highway 86 from Bozeman to US-89 near Wilsall is 35 miles and takes about 1 hr 10 min.

Is Bridger Canyon Road open in winter?

Yes. It is not on MDT's seasonally closed list, and it is plowed for Bridger Bowl.

Where does Highway 86 end?

It ends at US-89 a few miles north of Wilsall.

What you get in the app

Turn by turn, on this roadSpoken directions along the exact route. Carve never reroutes you onto a faster one.
Preview it in 3DFly the whole drive over satellite and terrain before you go.
Drive it with no signalAPEXDownload the map and every turn before you go.
Live Group TrackingAPEXEveryone on the route, on the map, by name.
Road conditionsAPEXWet or dry, ice, fog and wind along the road before you go.
Record your drivesAPEXRecord a drive and turn it into a route to drive again or share.

Free on iPhone and Android. CarPlay and Android Auto come with Apex.

More drives near here

Distance, time, elevation, curves and intensity are from Carve's route. Checked 2026-10-28.

Map of Bridger Canyon: Highway 86, from Bozeman to Wilsall