Full Trucker mentioned Montana. Who has ridden there? Who recommends what in terms of long rides?
Montana epics?
- Thread starter johnbryanpeters
- Start date
I've ridden in Missoula a couple times, and Bozeman. Bozeman had two REALLY great rides - Curley Lake was my favoritest. Also, Bangtail Divide. Curley Lake was pretty remote, and tough. I found this old blog post of mine:
http://heidirides.blogspot.com/search/label/Montana
http://heidirides.blogspot.com/search/label/Montana
I'm in Bozeman, so I won't speak to the Western or Northern areas (i.e. Missoula/Whitefish/Wisdom (Big Holes) which are equally amazing.
Curly Lake highline is a good one (25 miles/5000 ft), with a shorter season (closed due to mtn goat kidding until July 22nd)
IMO the "best" riding is actually down in the Henry's Mountains near W. Yellowstone.
They rerouted some of the CDT down there, and singletrack is truly epic.
The season is normally similarly abridged due to snow/elevation (July-early Oct)
Just buy this map, and camp for free on the South Side of Hebgen Lake (or if you want to pay to camp, Cliff and Wade Lake Campgrounds are closer to the Mile/Sheep access)
http://www.beartoothpublishing.com/bozeman.php
There's Mile and Sheep creek (which can be ridden as out and backs or looped as follows)
http://ltrainstation.blogspot.com/2012/07/mile-to-sheep-creek-epic-ride-montana.html
And the CDT rereoute from Targhee Pass is very WORTHY as well, a bunch of options including this:
http://forums.mtbr.com/idaho-montana-wyoming/lionhead-little-loop-813064.html
and this:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/200857-TR-CDT-Idaho-Montana-Denny-Ck-to-Targhee-Ck-Dry-Fork
If you're in BZN another EPIC ride that doesn't get too much pub is Blackmore to Cottonwood
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/128858-TR-Mt-Blackmore-where-bikes-belong-eternally
There's also some fun stuff between Big SKy and Hebgen Lake (Kirkwood/Red Canyon)
While I ride alone 99% of the time, these rides are "out there" in bear country, so friends/bear spray is advised.
The Henry's area is thought to be in threat of closure to mtb, so ride it while you can...
Curly Lake highline is a good one (25 miles/5000 ft), with a shorter season (closed due to mtn goat kidding until July 22nd)
IMO the "best" riding is actually down in the Henry's Mountains near W. Yellowstone.
They rerouted some of the CDT down there, and singletrack is truly epic.
The season is normally similarly abridged due to snow/elevation (July-early Oct)
Just buy this map, and camp for free on the South Side of Hebgen Lake (or if you want to pay to camp, Cliff and Wade Lake Campgrounds are closer to the Mile/Sheep access)
http://www.beartoothpublishing.com/bozeman.php
There's Mile and Sheep creek (which can be ridden as out and backs or looped as follows)
http://ltrainstation.blogspot.com/2012/07/mile-to-sheep-creek-epic-ride-montana.html
And the CDT rereoute from Targhee Pass is very WORTHY as well, a bunch of options including this:
http://forums.mtbr.com/idaho-montana-wyoming/lionhead-little-loop-813064.html
and this:
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/200857-TR-CDT-Idaho-Montana-Denny-Ck-to-Targhee-Ck-Dry-Fork
If you're in BZN another EPIC ride that doesn't get too much pub is Blackmore to Cottonwood
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/128858-TR-Mt-Blackmore-where-bikes-belong-eternally
There's also some fun stuff between Big SKy and Hebgen Lake (Kirkwood/Red Canyon)
While I ride alone 99% of the time, these rides are "out there" in bear country, so friends/bear spray is advised.
The Henry's area is thought to be in threat of closure to mtb, so ride it while you can...
Last edited:
SerialMidget
Sun Vally Idaho
Have only DHed at Whitefish. Amazing area & can imagine there is stellar XC nearby.
Not much help i know. -__-
Not much help i know. -__-
There is some quality stuff in @Montana rider 's post. Just to add a couple of notes. The Tobacco Root mountains are probably my favorite place to ride in Montana. The possibilities are nearly endless and there is nobody there. There is a guy that has a blog on bike packing in the Tobacco Roots. I have limited time and cant find it at the moment. I think I came across it on MTBR. There are also tons of options around the Mt. Blackmore area he links to.
Also, the CDT headed south from just outside of Lincoln is pretty amazing.
Also, the CDT headed south from just outside of Lincoln is pretty amazing.
"My favorite, most accurate way to measure trip depth is the severity of re-acclimation sickness". http://greenecasey.blogspot.com/2013/06/tobacco-root-packbike.html
There is a trail off strawberry lake nea r Glacier that totally kicked my ass a few years back... it's the only epic I'v tried in MT, I cant remember its name, you will need a shuttle to get it done in one day. There is a friendly bike shop in Whitefish MT that will give you info on local trails. It's called glacier cycles. Do a Web search and stay west of the divide.
Google strawberry lake trail 7, there are 2 epic options, I choose the climb and it kicked my ass real good.
Google strawberry lake trail 7, there are 2 epic options, I choose the climb and it kicked my ass real good.
NEVER choose the climb in an epic...
I has thoughts, for those that care to listen...
Sure did. Do I need to add PTO before or after Maah Daah Hey?
You're ideas intrigue me, I'd like to subscribe to your newsletter...
Tell me moar.
QFT.
This write-up has some ID stuff (White Clouds, RIP) and includes Blackmore->Cottonwood and Curly along with some shots from the Butte area CDT which is pretty different from most of our other alpine rides...
http://www.tetongravity.com/forums/showthread.php/280412-TR-Idaho-Montana-fall-2014-(pic-heavy)
sensory overload.
That's it. Nice Googlefoo.
There is a really cool out and back just north of the area he covers. It goes to Skytop lake, Deep Lake and Hollow Top lake. We used to ride motos into there when I was a kid and I have always loved going back with my bike. There are also hot springs and the Pony Bar to add a little local interest.
http://www.outsidebozeman.com/activities/hiking-backpacking/wacky-tobackies
https://www.google.com/maps/place/Pony,+Mt/@45.6031898,-111.9884445,16z/data=!4m2!3m1!1s0x535aeb090f73389f:0xc85099ab9552b898
Cut across Montana when I raced Tour Divide a few years ago, definitely Big Sky Country.
My wife and I enjoyed Bangtail Divide near Bozeman on one of our weddingmoon rides earlier this year. (Gutted that the White Clouds stuff in ID is now off limits, we hit that too and Ants Basin became one of my favourites).
My wife and I enjoyed Bangtail Divide near Bozeman on one of our weddingmoon rides earlier this year. (Gutted that the White Clouds stuff in ID is now off limits, we hit that too and Ants Basin became one of my favourites).
Looking for maps of Mount Helena ridge trail, Bangtail Divide trail, and Rattlesnake Loop.