Family-Friendly Hikes Near Bozeman (Stroller-Accessible & Toddler Approved)

Short answer: yes, you can hike with a stroller in Bozeman. The Gallagator Trail and Palisade Falls are fully paved. Bozeman Creek Trail and Bozeman Pond have wide gravel surfaces that handle jogging strollers. Peet’s Hill has a paved accessible loop at the top. You have options, and they’re good ones.

Most “family hiking” guides for Bozeman lump toddler walks and 8-mile ridge climbs into the same list. That’s not helpful when you’re pushing a BOB stroller with a sleeping two-year-old and a diaper bag strapped to the handlebar. This guide covers trails where wheels actually work, organized from flattest to most ambitious.

Gallagator Trail

The Gallagator follows an old railroad bed through town, running about 2.8 miles from the Bozeman Public Library to south of Sacajawea Middle School. Most of the trail is paved or packed crushed stone, dead flat, and wide enough for a double stroller. The railroad grade means no surprises — no steps, no root-tangled sections, no sudden hills.

The northern end connects to the Museum of the Rockies, which makes for an easy half-day combo: stroller walk, then dinosaur exhibits. Benches along the route give you spots to stop for snack breaks. Restrooms are available at the library and near the museum.

Surface: Paved/crushed stone. Distance: 2.8 miles one way. Stroller type: Any stroller works.

Palisade Falls

The prettiest stroller-friendly walk near Bozeman. Palisade Falls is a 0.6-mile paved trail to an 80-foot waterfall in Hyalite Canyon, about 30 minutes south of town. The trail is wheelchair-accessible with an accessible restroom at the trailhead and a picnic area. The grade is gentle enough for any stroller.

Kids love this one. The waterfall is dramatic without being scary, the walk is short enough that nobody melts down, and the canyon scenery makes it feel like a real adventure even though you’re on pavement. Pack a picnic — the tables at the trailhead are great.

Surface: Paved. Distance: 1.2 miles round trip. Stroller type: Any stroller works. Note: The drive up Hyalite Canyon Road takes 30 minutes and is winding. Carsick-prone kids should eat lightly beforehand.

Bozeman Pond

Bozeman Pond wraps around a small lake just past the Gallatin Valley Mall on West Oak Street. The loop is flat, roughly a mile, and surfaced with packed gravel wide enough for strollers with decent-sized wheels. There’s a fenced off-leash dog area on one side (which toddlers will want to investigate), a fishing dock, picnic tables, pavilions, and a climbing boulder.

This is the trail for when you need to get outside but don’t have the bandwidth for logistics. It’s five minutes from grocery stores and restaurants, there’s real parking, and the loop is short enough that you can bail at any point. On warm days, kids wade at the pond’s edge.

Surface: Packed gravel. Distance: ~1 mile loop. Stroller type: Jogging stroller or all-terrain recommended.

Peet’s Hill (Burke Park)

Peet’s Hill is the sunset spot in Bozeman. The park sits right off Church Avenue near downtown, and GVLT upgraded the walking loop at the top to an all-persons accessible trail. That loop is paved, flat, and offers panoramic views of the Bridger Mountains that look like they were composited in. The initial climb from the parking lot on Josephine Drive is steep and graveled, but there’s an accessible parking space with a more gradual route to the overlook.

One warning: there’s no shade on top. In July and August it bakes. Go before 10 AM or after 6 PM. Restrooms are at the Josephine Drive parking lot.

Surface: Paved loop at top; gravel elsewhere. Distance: Under 1 mile. Stroller type: All-terrain for the lower paths; any stroller for the top loop.

Bozeman Creek Trail (Sourdough Canyon)

A wide, 8-foot gravel road that follows Bozeman Creek south of town. The first mile and a quarter is the Sourdough Creek Nature Trail, with only 65 feet of elevation gain — basically flat. Kids love the creek. Within a half mile from the trailhead you’ll find spots where toddlers can safely stick their feet in the water, and the trees provide full shade on hot days.

A jogging stroller with air-filled tires handles this trail easily. Standard umbrella strollers will struggle on the gravel. The parking lot is off Sourdough Canyon Road (turn south from Nash Road). No restrooms at the trailhead.

Surface: Compacted gravel. Distance: 2.5 miles round trip (nature trail). Stroller type: Jogging or all-terrain.

Sunset Hills

Bozeman’s newest trail network, built in 2025 by GVLT as a dedicated all-abilities system. Sunset Hills sits between Lindley Park and Bozeman Health, with paved paths, gravel trails, and natural-surface options across 30 acres of open field. The paved sections are perfect for any stroller, and the gravel loops add distance if you want it.

Accessible parking with curb cuts is at the Softball Complex off Highland Boulevard. The flat, open terrain means good sightlines — you can see your older kid on a bike while you push the stroller on the path.

Surface: Paved + gravel options. Distance: Variable (multiple loops). Stroller type: Any stroller on paved; all-terrain on gravel. Winter note: Trails are groomed for cross-country skiing in winter. Walking on groomed ski trails is not allowed.

Grotto Falls (for older kids)

If your kids walk on their own and you can ditch the stroller, Grotto Falls in Hyalite Canyon is a 2.5-mile round-trip waterfall hike on a wide, flat trail. The path is technically wheelchair-accessible and could handle a rugged jogging stroller, though the surface is natural and gets uneven in spots. Most families with kids 4 and up do this one without a stroller.

The payoff is an 80-foot waterfall cascading into a pool at the base. Kids can scramble on the rocks near the bottom. Bear spray is mandatory in Hyalite Canyon from May through October — no exceptions, even on the short trails.

Surface: Natural, mostly flat. Distance: 2.5 miles round trip. Best for: Walking kids ages 4+.

Drinking Horse Mountain (for walking kids 5+)

Not stroller-friendly, but worth mentioning because it’s the first “real hike” most Bozeman kids graduate to. The loop is 2.1 miles with 670 feet of elevation gain. Go left at the junction for the shadier, steeper route with switchbacks. There’s a teepee-style fort at the summit that kids lose their minds over. Most 5- and 6-year-olds can handle it with snack breaks.

Bridger Creek runs under the bridge at the trailhead for pre- and post-hike splashing. The trail is 10 minutes from downtown. It gets crowded on summer weekends — go early.

Surface: Dirt/gravel. Distance: 2.1 miles (loop). Best for: Walking kids ages 5+.

What to bring

A few things that make family hikes around Bozeman go smoother:

• Sun protection. Many of these trails have zero shade. Hats and sunscreen on everyone, including the baby in the stroller.
• Snacks and water. More than you think. Altitude dehydrates faster than sea level.
• Bear spray. Required for any trail outside of town from May through October. Here’s where to buy or rent it.
• Bug spray. Mosquitoes are aggressive near creeks from June through August.
• A jogging stroller with air-filled tires. Standard umbrella strollers handle Gallagator and Palisade Falls but struggle everywhere else. If you’re renting one, Bob Ward’s and REI in Bozeman don’t rent strollers, but some vacation rental hosts stock them — ask before you book.

Your next step: pair a morning hike with an afternoon at the Museum of the Rockies or a soak at the hot springs. For trails where your dog can come along too, see the dog-friendly hikes guide.