Rodney Ridge: Top of the World to Rent Money

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Unknown

Rodney Ridge offers many options; this is a locals' favorite with a good view of the Helena Valley and a fun downhill. Although there is a decent amount of riding on the road to start, it offers a good warm-up and space to ride side-by-side, making for a good group ride. Riding this after Mount Ascension to Entertainment to Archery Range makes a great 90-120 minute ride.

No access or parking from Arastra Gulch Road. This is private land.

Make sure to hit up Blackfoot River Brewing for great beer after your ride!

[This route has been edited to respect private property south of Top of the World.]

Head south out of town on Davis Street, and climb Davis Gulch. Turn right onto Dry Gulch, and then right onto Roger Fuchs Trail.

For an alternate approach with more singletrack, take Orofino Gulch south from town, climb onto the Waterline Trail, and climb Pinchot Trail to the top of Rent Money.

The downhill starts with Top of the World, which is a wide-open ridge ride on limestone rubble. High speeds descending form Top of the World are not advised because this area is very popular with pedestrians and short sight lines in places limit visibility. Watch out for the hard left turn on a rock outcrop; it looks like an awesome drop, but you don't want to do it and creating new paths or deviating from the existing trail reflects poorly on the mountain biking community.

At the bottom of Top of the World, there is a 4-way junction. Pinchot Trail to the left, an old fall-line doubletrack straight ahead, and Rent Money to the right. Turn right onto Rent Money for some of Helena's best flow trail, with berms, rollers, and doubles. Rent Money ends at the Roger Fuchs Trail.

From there, you can descend back to Davis Gulch, or choose any of the other options on the ridge. This ride drops down the Rodney Meadow Trail to the Waterline Trail. This last descent is short but fast and flowing.