Finding A Hawk Watch

Name: HawkWatch International
Phone: (801) 484-6808 or (800) 726-4295
Email: hwi@hawkwatch.org

daily; fall; 1 September -31 October

From Bozeman, follow signs to Bridger Bowl. Take Montana State Route 86 northeast out of town (also called Bridger Canyon Road). At ~14 miles there is a spur road to the left that leads to the ski area. Park at the highest lodge. The site is accessed by following a primitive dirt road for one and a half miles (2500 ft elevation gain) to the top of the Bridger chair-lift, then continuing a short way along a footpath to the observation platform at the top of the ridge.

The primary observation site is a helicopter pad above the Bridger Bowl Ski Area within the Gallatin National Forest, 16 mi north of Bozeman. The site is on the east slope of the range, approximately 2 mi north of Saddle Peak. Primary vegetation on top of the Bridger Mountains includes Engelmann spruce and subalpine fir. Limber and white-bark pine are also present. The lookout is near the tree line with forested zones interspersed among rocky outcrops and talus slopes.

The highlight of this site is extraordinary numbers of Golden Eagles, averaging 1,600 per season.

Contributed by: Paul Grindrod