On the Trail With Dayle: Where Will the Trails Take Me in 2026?
“You have brains in your head. You have feet in your shoes. You can steer yourself any direction you choose.”
Like many lovers of mountains, I’m fascinated by the achievements of thru-hikers (e.g., on the Appalachian and the Pacific Coast Trails) and high peak climbers. Before moving to Montana in my early thirties, I climbed all the 4,000-foot peaks in New England. There are 67 total (Maine has 14, New Hampshire has 48, and Vermont has 5). I have summited several of the fourteeners in Colorado and nearly made it to the top of Montana’s highest mountain, Granite Peak (12,799 feet). I have decided that three treks on the Beaten Path (26 miles across the Beartooth Mountains) are enough for one lifetime.
As I have gotten older, wiser, and more focused on fitness for longevity (i.e., not falling!), I am less interested in recording numbers or reaching summits. Journeys—and the folks that I travel with—have become more important than destinations. Last summer, I attended a reading of The Way Around: A Field Guide to Going Nowhere by author Nicholas Triolo at River Arts and Books in Roscoe, Montana. Since then, I have become more intrigued by the idea of walking around an area rather than going from point A to B or up and down.
Naturally, I started considering my walking style on my hometown trails in and around Bozeman. Usually, my choice of trail is made by convenience (e.g., can I get there without getting in a car) or purpose. I live a mere half mile from the start of the Peets Hill/Burke Park trail, and I love the valley views along that ridge. I can use the same route for my visits to Bozeman Health; it only takes about 20 minutes longer to walk rather than drive. Plus, I feel so much healthier before and afterward! The Gallagator Trail often takes me to events at MSU or the Museum of the Rockies.
When I go north rather than south, the routes to Altitude Athletics (my gym of choice) lead along some of my most frequently traveled trails—the Story Mill Spur and through the Story Mill Park Bird Sanctuary. These are also some of the truly peaceful places within Bozeman city limits, where I go when I am seeking the solace of nature. When I have the time or inclination to get in a car, I go farther afield to Cherry River, Tuckerman Park, or Sourdough Canyon, where I can listen to the bubbling serenity of water.
For 2026, I have an ambitious goal to expand my horizons trail-wise: I plan to walk all the trails in the Main Street to the Mountains system, which now totals nearly 100 miles! I want to experience all our local trails, not just the ones that are convenient or those that have become favorites. I plan to visit all corners of the trail system, like Cattail Creek Park, embedded in newer neighborhood developments. I want to explore even the small, disconnected pieces of trail that are waiting for completion or funding.
I am going to start by learning about the current trail system and future expansion plans from staff at Gallatin Valley Land Trust and some of its partners, including the City of Bozeman and Sacajawea Audubon Society.
I am very curious about what I can find in terms of plants, birds, reptiles, insects, mammals, and humans—as well as different views of Bozeman and our surrounding mountains. And I am even thinking about walking around the city limits of Bozeman—in stages, not all at once.
Honestly, I have not planned this project with great precision. My overall strategy is to be spontaneous and flexible depending on the weather, local events, and which friends (or dogs) might want to walk with me. I will share my experiences here and will record my progress regularly. Since January 1, I have walked a total of seven trail miles (very rough estimate), including 1.5 miles around and near Cattail Creek Park.
It feels like I am off to a good start—only 93 miles to go! If you would like to join me for a section of my GVLT walk-about or have a tip about your favorite trail, please email me at DayleHayesMT@gmail.com. I’d love to hear from you.