Bozeman Pass

Overview

Bozeman Pass is a Category 4 climb in the US, running 5.2 km from base to summit. It gains 172 m net over that distance, starting at 1,577 m and topping out at 1,749 m. On paper it reads as a short, moderate effort: a single-digit average gradient over a distance most riders can hold near threshold. That framing is accurate, but incomplete.

The detail that reshapes the effort is the gap between net elevation gain and total ascent. You climb 212 m of vertical across the ascent while only 172 m of that sticks — the summit sits just 172 m above the start. The missing 40 m is elevation you gain and then give back on descending sections. That undulation means you are pedaling uphill more than the net figure implies, and every dip you coast into is a ramp you have to re-climb on the far side.

How the Gradient Unfolds

The 3.28% average is a blend, not a constant. Undulating profiles average down because flatter and descending stretches pull the mean below what your legs actually feel on the climbing pitches. The steep work is concentrated, peaking at 6.67% — roughly double the average — so the effort arrives in bursts rather than as a steady drag.

• Flatter and false-flat sections where you can recover and shift up
• Short descending stretches that account for the 40 m of give-back
• Repeated punchy rises rather than one continuous wall
• The steepest ramp at 6.67%, where you'll want gears in reserve

Pacing Notes

On an undulating climb like this, chasing even speed is a trap: holding a fixed pace forces you to spike power on every rise and soft-pedal through every dip, burning matches you don't need to burn. Aim for even effort instead. Let your speed climb on the descents and settle on the steep pitches, keeping your sustainable power output roughly constant across the 5.2 km.

Know your ceiling before you start. Run the FTP estimator to set a target you can hold through the punches without redlining early. On a climb this short, going too deep on the first ramp costs you more than it gains.

Gearing

Gear for the steepest gradient, not the average. At 6.67%, a compact or sub-compact chainset paired with a wide-range cassette keeps your cadence up on the ramps without grinding. A 34×32 or 34×34 combination gives you enough range to spin the steep pitches and recover on the flatter sections. Check your setup before the ride — confirm the cassette and chainring you're actually running rather than assuming, because the wrong bottom gear turns a manageable ramp into a slog.

Summary

• Length: 5.2 km
• Average gradient: 3.28%
• Maximum gradient: 6.67%
• Net elevation gain: 172 m
• Total ascent: 212 m
• Category: 4

Bozeman Pass rewards riders who read the profile rather than the average. Pace to even effort, gear for the 6.67% ramp, and treat the 40 m of give-back as part of the work — not a rest.