Multi-Use Trails Offer a Multitude of Options

While Brundage Mountain has expanded it’s hiking-only trail system in recent years, those aren’t the only trails you can take to enjoy a great hike.

Three new multi-use trails in the base area give hikers several shady options to explore.

The Greenhorn, Hammerhead and Thorn Creek trails were built for XC Mountain Bikers, but these trails are equally as charming for those exploring on foot. You can find the Greenhorn Trail at the West End of the Main Parking Lot, right next to the Nature Trail entrance.

This set of trails is dog-friendly, but please be aware that deer fawn and calves frequent this area (see deer track below) so dogs MUST be leashed for everyone’s safety.

Greenhorn is a relatively flat trail, which switches back through a mostly-shaded forest.

After about a mile, the trail crosses over the entrance road and offers an option to take a loop on Hammerhead, or veer left onto Thorn Creek.

The Thorn Creek option creates a nearly 3-mile hike, adding in Hammerhead brings the round-trip described here up to 3.5 miles.

Both Hammerhead and Thorn Creek are mostly shaded and relatively flat trails, lined with huckleberry bushes.

The Thorn Creek section is especially calming and cool, between the gurgle of the creek and the lush greenery surrounding it.

The Thorn Creek section ends at a spot that will look familiar to our winter visitors. It meets Black Bear at the bottom of the Bear and Centennial Chairlifts. (Black Bear is the solid blue line on the map above).

Most people will choose to head left or North at this point, back up toward the lower parking lot, and eventually to the main lodge area.

Those interested in a longer hike can turn right and head up Black Bear for a longer loop or even explore the Growler trail, which offers some lovely south-facing views. Please be aware that the trails on this loop are also open to mountain bikers and dogs are NOT allowed on Growler or any of the ‘mountain’ trails, only the flatter, base area trails.