Summer Skiing "The Great One Couloir" in the Northern Bridgers

The Great One Couloir in the Northern Bridgers is a classic summer ski adventure, perfect for a day trip.

Walk up the trail towards Sacajewea Peak – it is marked on a sign and easy to find. Continue for about 2 miles to the top, where you will traverse south from Sacajewea Peak for roughly 1 mile, to the top of Naya Nuki Peak. From there, you should be able to look down to the east and see the top of the Great One Couloir.

Navigate down the short, rocky section and you're there! Relax and take in the sights. Most likely there will be mountain goats hanging around, and they are definitely not afraid of you. Don't get too close to them and there won't be any issues.

Once you're ready, ski one at at time down the couloir, and stay on the left side all the way to the bottom. If it's been a low snow year, you may have to take your skis off and hike through the middle section until there is enough snow to ski again. At the bottom, hike north-east from the couloir and you will find a trail leading to Fairy Lake, back to the parking lot.

Getting there: Take MT 86 north from Bozeman for 22.5 miles until you reach the Fairy Lake Road on the left. Take this (Forest Service) road, for 5 miles (steep gravel) to access the Fairy Lake trailhead. The road is fairly rugged—it’s Montana after all—so a high-clearance vehicle is preferable and it typically opens around July Fourth. Park your car at the end of the road, at Fairy Lake.