Hiking to a frozen Ousel Falls: The Ousel Falls Park Trail

Lower48
Written By Wendi Owen

What You Need to Know to Hike Ousel Falls

Where: Located on Ousel Falls Rd., 2 miles from Lone Mountain Trail Rd in Big Sky, MT

Distance: 1.6 miles

Difficulty: Easy

A frozen Ousel Falls in Gallatan COunty Montana near Big Sky Resort. The hike is along the South fork of the west fork of the gallatan river

Pros and Cons of the Ousel Falls Hike

Pros: 1. Great payout 

          2. Opportunities for some intense backcountry sledding on and off the trail

          3. Beautiful views of the Gallatin river

          4. Short drive from anywhere in Big Sky.

Cons: 1. heavily trafficked trail

           2. Some slippery sections

Frozen Osel Falls with Wendi and I in Gallatan County on the SOuth Fork of the West fork of the Gallatan river near big sky montana

Tips for a Great Ousel Falls Hike

Since the trail was heavily trafficked and the snow was well packed, snowshoes were not essential.  We rented them (Grizzly Outfitters, $20/day) and ended up carrying them for ⅔ of the hike.  Winter traction devices for your boots would have been helpful but were not necessary with good hiking boots.

We love to read your comments below.

Enjoy the short video.

Wendi Owen

I am a physician and a mother of three kids. My passion in life is creating experiences for my friends and family. My love for trip planning grew out of this passion and my goal with every trip I plan is to create the best possible experience for everyone around me.

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