MISSOULA AREA
Blue Mountain Recreation Area
Category: Mountain Biking
Level: Easy/Intermediate/Advanced
Distance: Varies
Getting Here:
From Missoula, head south for 2 miles on US-93. Turn right onto Blue Mountain Road and the trailhead is on the left where the road makes a 90-degree turn.
This popular recreation area boasts more than 41 miles of trails, so be sure to pick up a map. You’ll begin your ride in open meadows, where you can enjoy views of the Missoula Valley and Sapphire and Rattlesnake mountains, before you ascend into forested wilderness. Ride a quick and easy 3-mile loop, or explore much farther.
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Trailforks Trail Maps and Descriptions
Montana Snowbowl
Category: Mountain Biking
Level: Easy/Intermediate/Advanced
Distance: Varies
Getting Here:
From Missoula, take Reserve Street north, where it turns into Grant Creek Road. Follow Grant Creek Road for 3 miles before turning left onto Snowbowl Road. Continue 6 miles to Snowbowl Ski Area.
Ride the Grizzly Chairlift to 7,000 feet, taking in the sheer beauty of Lolo National Forest with breathtaking views of sweeping meadows and alpine forests. Challenge yourself to bike to the top of Point Six Trail, an elevation gain of 926 feet, and try to beat the record of 37 minutes, 36 seconds. After a hard but brief push to the top, enjoy mostly downhill trails on the other 25 miles of trail systems, then ride the chairlift back up and do it all again. Cap off the day with a post-adventure bloody mary and delicious wood-fired pizza. Montana Snowbowl opens for summer activities in late June.
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Pattee Canyon Recreation Area
Category: Mountain Biking
Level: Easy/Intermediate
Distance: Varies
Getting Here:
From downtown Missoula, follow Higgins Avenue south. Turn left onto Pattee Canyon Road and follow for 3 miles.
Located in a wooded canyon near Missoula and sitting at 4,100 feet, Pattee Canyon is a popular location for day hikes and mountain biking. It also has picnic sites and group sites available. Ride the Sam Braxton National Recreation Trail as it loops around the southeast portion of the Pattee Canyon Recreation Area. The trail begins at the trailhead and ends at the loop for a distance of 3.5 miles.
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Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness
Category: Mountain Biking
Level: Easy/Intermediate
Distance: Varies
Getting Here:
From Missoula, head north on Van Buren Street, which turns into Rattlesnake Drive. Follow for 4 miles until you reach a turnoff, which will lead you to the parking lot.
With its major trailhead only 4 miles north of Missoula, this 61,000-acre area forms Montana's premier urban wilderness, blending wilderness and civilization. Try the Rattlesnake Main Trail #515 or Ewok. The Sawmill (Fenceline) Trail #24 starts in Grant Creek and connects to the Rattlesnake trails.
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Missoula City Trails
Category: Road Biking
Level: Easy
Distance: Varies
Getting Here:
Click here for information about accessing the Missoula City Trails.
Downtown riverfront trails and a network of city trails connecting neighborhoods, business and recreation hot spots are part of Missoula’s charm. Approximately 2 miles long, Ron’s Riverfront Trail parallels the north side of the Clark Fork River and crosses through Kiwanis, Bess Reed, Caras and East Caras parks from the Orange Street Bridge to the Madison Street Bridge (where it hooks up with the Milwaukee Trail). South of the river, Missoula’s 1.8-mile Milwaukee Trail provides a convenient east-west commuting route through the city, and connects with the Kim Williams Nature Trail, which will take you all the way to East Missoula. Just north of hustle and bustle of Reserve Street and the interstate, the 3.3-mile Grant Creek Trail starts at the Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation and ends at Snowbowl Road—offering great views of Snowbowl.
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Upper Marshall Mountain Bike Trails
Category: Mountain Biking
Level: Intermediate/Advanced
Distance: Varies
Getting Here:
From Missoula, take I-90 east to Montana Highway 200 east to Marshall Canyon Road and take the first left about a mile up the road through the green gate, which is located well before the former ski area. Note that there is no public access through the ski area and XC race course.
Upper Marshall Mountain boasts expert-level Bjorn Again, Missoula’s first downhill-only trail built specifically for bikes. Intermediate trails Hot Sauce and Hello Kitty offer easier routes.
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More Missoula Area Cycling and Information:
