Beaver Ponds Loop

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Beaver Ponds is one of the more popular stand-alone trails in the Thompson Park Area, but it is much more fun to ride down than up. On this loop, you ascend via Hwy 2 (MT2) and the Continental Divide Trail (CDT), and descend via Beaverponds. Faster riders will be able to complete the loop under an hour, allow 2 if you are slower and/or less confident. Apart from the odd glimpse of the mountains between the trees, there are no specific summits or viewpoints on this route, however the forest is very beautiful and the trails are amazing.

Start by parking at the Beaverponds Trailhead located on the side of MT2. Ride 1.3 miles up and over Pipestone pass on MT2 to the trailhead of the CDT North. The road is paved, but narrow, windy and steep, so be careful of traffic.

The ascent up the CDT to the Junction with Beaverponds is relatively pleasant due to smooth and undulating singletrack through lodgepole and aspen. At the trail junction turn left on beaver ponds where the trail takes you down and around an open marshy area, which is possibly where the trail gets its name.

Beaver ponds has some tricky little rocky and technical sections that may challenge intermediates, and a couple of notable ones are on this section. After passing the junction with Blacktail Ridge Trail, you have about half a mile of moderately steep climbing to reach the highest point on this route. From there it's pretty much all downhill, about 800 feet back to the Trailhead. The trail is mostly smooth with some sandy, rocky and technical sections.