The Bozeman Trail
The Bozeman Trail: Preserving History, Connecting Generations
Pioneered in 1863 by John Bozeman and John Jacobs as a shortcut to the new Montana goldfields, the Bozeman Trail spanned approximately 535 miles from the Oregon Trail near Casper, Wyoming, to the mining camps around Virginia City. The route passed directly through Native American hunting grounds and traditional homelands, setting the stage for a complex and often violent chapter in American history.
Its growing use by settlers and the establishment of military forts led to escalating conflict and ultimately Red Cloud’s War, which included the Fetterman Battle (1866) and the Wagon Box and Hay Field Fights (1867).
Ralph Saunders: Chronicling the Legacy of the Bozeman Trail
Ralph Saunders, a long-time board member of Our Montana, has spent years researching, mapping, and documenting the Bozeman Trail’s route through Montana. His detailed maps and narrative have helped locate the trail with unprecedented accuracy, including visible remnants of wagon tracks still etched into the landscape.
Through his dedication to historical research and documentation, the story of the Bozeman Trail continues to inform and engage historians, educators, and travelers interested in the region’s past.
Bill Cole, Former Mayor of Billings · Mike Penfold, President, Our Montana · Ralph Saunders
Explore the New Bozeman Trail Website
We’re pleased to share the launch of The Bozeman Trail Website, an educational resource focused on the history and significance of this important historic route. The site offers historical context, selected materials, and an introduction to the extensive research behind Ralph Saunders’, The Bozeman Trail in Montana: A Trail Description and Touring Guide, along with background on the trail’s origins and development.
Preservation, Advocacy, and National Recognition
Our Montana, in partnership with the Fort Phil Kearny/Bozeman Trail Association, continues to advocate for the designation of the Bozeman Trail as a National Historic Trail under the National Trails Act of 1968.
The objective is to petition the U.S. Congress to direct the Secretary of the Interior to evaluate the trail for inclusion in the National Trails System. If the Bozeman Trail meets the established criteria, we will support legislation recognizing its pivotal role in the history of the American West.
This initiative seeks congressional recognition to preserve the trail’s cultural, historical, and environmental legacy for future generations.
Acknowledgments
Special thanks to the Willett Family Foundation and Beartooth RC&D for their continued support of the Bozeman Trail project and to the many volunteers, researchers, and historians whose dedication keeps this history alive.
Drone Journey Along the Historic Bozeman Trail
Video by Ryan Willett
Bill Cole, Former Mayor of Billings · Mike Penfold, President, Our Montana · Ralph Saunders
