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Welcome all new and returning Luna Hens! Feel free to review the additional information on the website and contact Debi (bwagorg2026@gmail.com) to inquire about joining BWAGs and to receive the new member information. After becoming a BWAG member, you can contact the coordinators below (or on the Group Contacts page) to get on the email distribution list for the activities and days you are interested in.
I have prepared a biking schedule (2026 Ride Schedule) for the season. It designates a meeting place for each ride and a carpool meeting place when applicable. Each ride is lead by a volunteer leader. Please refer to this chart weekly and contact the leader for any questions or updates
Below the ride schedule are the ride start times for each month and a description of each ride.
Hopefully this season-at-a-glance helps avoid multiple emails and allows potential new BWAGs as well as occasional bikers to see what type of rides we enjoy and to decide if they are interested in joining us. Our group includes bikers of all abilities, so you can usually find someone who bikes at your pace. Please note that some of our bikers now enjoy using e-bikes.
Some of our rides are close to town and don’t require a full day commitment, but others involve a longer drive to the start so we may be gone most of the day. We usually bring a snack or lunch on our rides and occasionally have lunch at a local restaurant. Always bring plenty of water and wear layers in anticipation of changes in the weather.
When we carpool, remember to bring cash for the driver.
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Weather/cancellations:
Wind is usually the factor I most consider when deciding whether to ride or not. Make the best decision for you as I will not always send cancellation emails.
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BICYCLE SAFETY:
We BWAG bikers are all safety aware. We need to be sure that none of us are among the 20 bicyclists per week that are killed in the US. It begins by being SEEN by car drivers. Below is an excellent link that summarizes what you already practice:
Wearing helmets, checking equipment before riding, wearing bright reflective clothing, keeping hands on bike, using turn signals, limiting distractions, using rules of the road (like cars), riding with flow of traffic, staying off sidewalks, using bike lanes.
We have been reminded of other important safety considerations because we are riding in a group:
Riding single file
Keeping together
Keeping space between bikers in case someone stops suddenly
Using hand signals
Stopping when the group can get safely off the road
Editorial: Why is stopping at a stop sign a bad idea? Cars stop there, too. Too many bikers bunched up together risks one of us getting hit, because car drivers can’t see everyone.
BWAG Bikers: Your good safety behavior protects others in the group!
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Yellowstone National Park information:
Many of you are interested in riding in YNP before the road opens to vehicles in the spring or after the roads close in the fall. We don’t usually get to schedule this ride because the weather doesn’t always cooperate on a Thursday. Check with the park to verify road opening and closing dates each year
From the YNP website: Every spring and fall, bicycling, including e-bikes, may be permitted on park roads while they’re closed to motorized, public travel. Electric or pedal-assist bikes are considered to be bikes (as opposed to motor vehicles). They can ride anywhere bikes are allowed. Roads will not be free of cars during these times: bicyclists will encounter employees, contractors, plows, and other administrative vehicles on the roads. If you plan to bike on any roads open to public, motorized travel, check out our bicycling page.
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3rd/Mystic Hills/Nash/Sourdough/Triple Tree/Fowler/ loop (4 options):
Start at MOR or Sacajawea Middle School and ride South 3rd Ave to Nash Rd. From here you can choose to continue straight up to the Mystic Hills neighborhood to 19th and return to starting point, or take a left onto Nash then a left onto Sourdough Rd then a left onto Goldenstein Ln and right back onto South 3rd and back to starting point. Another option is to take a right on Nash, cross 19th, bike through the Hyalite Vista neighborhood to Fowler, make a right onto Fowler and a right onto Patterson, a left onto 19th, a right onto Goldenstein and a left onto 3rd to return to starting point. An additional challenge would be to go up Triple Tree and back from Sourdough.
Abandoned Railroad Bed Bike Trail/ Yellowstone Trail:
This mostly level dirt trail starts northwest of the Heritage and Research Center in Gardiner. It follows the abandoned railway bed north paralleling the Yellowstone River to the park’s northern boundary at Reese Creek. (We will bike this route in reverse)
Bear Canyon:
From the Highlands baseball fields parking lot, take Ellis St to right onto Haggerty Ln, left onto Bluebird Ln, left onto Mt Ellis Rd cross the RR tracks and right onto the frontage road, right under the interstate onto Bozeman Trail Rd, left onto Bear Canyon Rd to the end. Turn around and return by same route.
Cherry Creek:
Bike ride is gravel and paved – need hybrid bike. Bike from the MOR to Story Mill (gravel), toward the M (paved), through Legends development (gravel) to McIllhattan road, through Manley Meadows development (paved) & on to Cherry Creek (gravel). On return, bike around Glen Lake to Story Mill and back to the MOR (mostly gravel).
Chico:
Park at Chico Hot Springs and ride out to and make a left onto East River Rd to the end where it meets US 89. Follow same route back. Often bikers choose to soak and/or have lunch at Chico Hot Springs or Sage Lodge.
Cottonwood/ Gooch Hill:
From the Kirk Hill parking lot make a left onto S 19th, left onto Cottonwood Rd, right onto Law Rd (dirt/gravel for about 1 mile), right onto Gooch Hill Rd, right onto Blackwood Rd, right onto Cottonwood Rd, left onto Patterson, right onto Fowler, left onto 19th returning to the start. This ride is hilly.
East Baseline/Walker Road:
Park at 2710 Kid Curry Drive, home of Joanne Kamplain. Leave from Joanne’s house, left on Kid Curry, right on Butch Cassidy, right on Nelson road to Airport Road. Right on Airport Road to Spain Bridge Subdivision. Left into subdivision, wind through subdivision until reaching East Baseline. Right on East Baseline, cross Springhill to Walker Road. Right on Walker to Saddle Mountain and continue until road turns to dirt. Retrace the same way, (with the option of returning through a subdivision off Walker road back onto east Baseline) on the way back.
Ennis Lake:
Start at the Community Park parking lot at the end of town and follow 287 south to Jeffers Rd, to Ennis Lake Rd, to the bridge and back. You can add mileage by riding down to the dam and back. Options for bag lunch in the park or restaurant in town.
From Jeannie’s:
Jeannie’s address is 17130 Brackett Creek Rd. This ride is along Brackett Creek Rd towards Clyde Park. Jeannie invites bikers to enjoy their lunch on her porch after the ride.
From Teri’s:
Meet at 25 Willem Way Belgrade. Teri will choose ride from her house and invites bikers to enjoy their lunch on her porch after the ride.
Gallatin Gateway:
Start at the Community Center, following Gateway South Rd until it ends at the stop sign at US 191. Return by same route. Riders can add mileage by riding up and back Cottontail Rd on the way back.
Gallatin Gateway and Cottonwood School:
Start at the Gallatin Gateway Community Center (see above description). Those bikers who want can add a ride to the Cottonwood School and back. After using the tunnel under 191, make a left along the trail, take Gooch Hill Rd, right onto Law Road, left onto Cottonwood Rd to school. Return by same route.
Hyalite:
Start at the kiosk and ride up to the reservoir and back while the road is closed to traffic.
Jackson Creek Rd:
This ride is along Jackson Creek Rd to the interstate and back is very hilly. A great side ride is up and back Bridger Vista Drive.
Kelly Canyon:
From the Highland Blvd baseball fields parking lot, take Ellis St to right onto Haggerty Ln, left onto Bluebird Ln, left onto Mt Ellis Rd cross the RR tracks and right onto Kelly Canyon Rd. This ride is up to the top of the Kelly Canyon Rd and then back by the same route. This ride is hilly!
Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park/Cardwell:
From Lewis and Clark Caverns SP lower Visitor Center parking lot make a right onto MT 2. Follow this road along the Jefferson River, left onto MT 359, right onto McKeown Lane, right onto Tebay Lane. The turn around spot is where Tebay Lane comes near the interstate. Return by the same route.
Livingston:
This ride is about 16 miles round-trip. From hospital, will cross Park Street to access the Old Clyde Park Road which is paved, has some pleasant views & sparse traffic. Follow that to HWY 89 with an option to extend along Yellowstone River on Convict Grade Road as far as desired. However, this extension becomes gravel after a mile. Those who have bigger tires can go farther if desired. Might be a good spot to stop for lunch along river there. Return same route. Caution: WINDY!
“M” Trail:
This ride will begin in Story Mill park. Ride to the Drinking Horse parking lot then wind through nearby neighborhoods on the way back down to the park.
Manhattan Nixon Bridge:
Meet at Four Corners Fishing Access (4.8 miles west of Dry Creek Bible Church, south of Dry Creek Road, good idea to have MT Conservation License). From Four Corners Fishing Access, go east on Dry Creek Road very briefly and take an immediate right onto Central Park Road. Turn around at Frontage Road and return to the path near Four Corners Fishing Access. Continue on the path to Manhattan. Thread thru Manhattan to Nixon Gulch Road. Stop at Nixon Bridge Fishing Access on Gallatin River for a snack. Return. Top the ride off with an extra tour of Central Park Road.
Natural Bridge State Park:
From McLeod turn right onto Main Boulder Rd to the State Park. We usually explore the park and enjoy a bag lunch before returning by the same route. This ride is hilly.
Outlaw Ride:
The ride meanders past Chief Joseph Middle School toward Harper Puckett Rd, crossing Valley Center Rd and heading west to Cameron Bridge where we turn around and return by same route.
Ryen Glenn to Saddlepeak:
Park near 2107 East Silver Circle, Belgrade, in Ryen Glenn neighborhood, house of Monica DeLaney. North on Powers, west on Penwell to Dry Creek, turn around, continue on Penwell until Stimson. Turn right. East up Baseline and south on Walker to east on Saddlepeak Rd. Return
Shields River Rd:
Start from parked cars on Hwy 89 down Shields River Rd to the bridge and back. Has great mountain views and very little traffic both ways. This ride is hilly.
Three Forks:
Start at the parking area across from the campground and follow the trail into Three Forks. You can choose to ride down to Willow Creek and back along Old Yellowstone Trail Rd or bike through town and pick up the paved trail to the Jefferson River. Return by same route. Gravel riders can take a loop from the campground parking lot towards Trident and take the Logan Trident Rd to the Frontage Rd and back to the starting point.
Yellowstone National Park:
Many of you are interested in riding in YNP before or after the road opens to vehicles. Check with the park to verify road opening and closing dates each year. From the YNP website: Every spring and fall, bicycling, including e-bikes, may be permitted on park roads while they’re closed to motorized, public travel. Electric or pedal-assist bikes are considered to be bikes (as opposed to motor vehicles). They can ride anywhere bikes are allowed. Roads will not be free of cars during these times: bicyclists will encounter employees, contractors, plows, and other administrative vehicles on the roads. If you plan to bike on any roads open to public, motorized travel, check out our bicycling page.
Thursday Meeting Times 2026
April 10:00
May 9:45
June 9:30
July 9:00
August 8:30
September 9:30
October 10:00
Ride leaders will determine meeting time at carpool meeting area based on weather and length of car trip and include it in their Sunday email.