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A favourite loop in the Thompson Park Area


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Map Key

13.2

Miles

21.3

KM

90%

Singletrack

6,900' 2,103 m

High

5,777' 1,761 m

Low

1,683' 513 m

Up

1,680' 512 m

Down

5%

Avg Grade (3°)

24%

Max Grade (14°)

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Overview

This is one of the best loops you can do in the Thompson Park Area, because it has a bit of everything: Interesting terrain, flowy singletrack, big hills, fun descents and a splashing to tech. The best way to ride this loop is counter clockwise, and this description starts at one of the main Thompson Park Trailheads.

Description

Start by ascending to the Milwaukee Rd via Placer and Eagles Nest Trails. The Milwaukee Rd is the route of an old railway line where the trail is wide and has a very pleasant gradient. There are 2 tunnels that are safe to pass through mid route which can be dark so you may want to bring a light. There is also a large wooden train trestle that crosses over Roosevelt Canyon and this is one of the scenic highlights of the loop. It is possible to make the loop longer and harder by climbing up and looping the trails above Milwaukee Rd.

Milwaukee Rd takes you to Pipestone Pass, where there is a trailhead for the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) which heads both North and South from here. We will take the North trail, which involves heading down the hill slightly and crossing the road. The climb up the CDT is pleasant and flowy, even if you are going uphill! You'll reach a trail junction where you turn left onto the Beaver Ponds Trail.

The top part of the Beaver ponds trail winds around a marshy area and there are some tricky little technical sections to challenge intermediate riders. After this short section you'll turn right onto Blacktail Ridge trail which is perhaps the best riding of the loop, where the trail climbs and falls along a broad ridge with some mildly technical granite features.

Blacktail Ridge trail will come out on the Blacktail Loop where you turn left, and after a short fun section of switchbacks you turn left again onto Skeeboggan. Skeeboggan is the big descent of this loop and the main reason why this direction is recommended. It is a favorite downhill trail of many riders, as it is fast and flowy in some sections and tight and slightly technical in others. It will take you all the way down to Highway 2 where you can climb back up to your vehicle.

Contacts

Shared By:

Matt W

Trail Ratings

  4.0 from 1 vote

#3310

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  4.0 from 1 vote
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#69

in Montana

#3,310

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Photos

There was a forest fire in the middle of the Blacktail Ridge during the summer of 2024. Fortunately the trail was relatively unharmed.
Aug 13, 2024 near Butte-S…, MT
A small wooden bridge on Placer Trail at Thompson Park.
Aug 5, 2024 near Butte-S…, MT
One of the tunnels on the Old Milwaukee Railroad.
Aug 20, 2024 near Butte-S…, MT
The Beaver "Ponds" are marshy clearings near the Blacktail Ridge.
Aug 20, 2024 near Butte-S…, MT
Looking out one of the tunnels on the Old Milwaukee Railroad.
Aug 20, 2024 near Butte-S…, MT
A section of boardwalk of Placer Trail, with the mountains of the East Ridge of the Great Divide in the background.
Aug 5, 2024 near Butte-S…, MT

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