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SaveThis 4,900-acre recreation area includes 41 miles of system trails and is a popular spot for locals and visitors because of its proximity to the city of Missoula and the views of the Missoula valley, and the Sapphire and Rattlesnake mountains. Blue Mountain Recreation Area East Zone is a day use area only; the area is closed 10 p.m. to 6 a.m. The lower trails near the parking areas are very popular for hikers and dog walkers, so please keeps speeds low on these trails and always yield to other users.
Rides typically start from the main lower parking lot trailhead located at the corner of Blue Mountain Rd and Forest Hills Dr. Riders generally head up on the main Corridor Trail 3.04 or Out and Back 3.08 and aim for either Rocky Top or the Moto Trailhead. From either of these high points, a rider has several choices to descend for an after-work quickie, or one can head up higher to the top of the Hayes Creek descent (bonus points for doing the Summit Loop Trail). From here, its a fast flow fest back down on the Hayes Creek Trail and out Why Not (or double bonus for climbing back out Moto Line and dropping the front side (GI Joe/Carcass or Rocky Top/Out and Back)
If you're feeling exploratory and/or hankering for some rocks after riding the Rattlesnake
, moto trails like J's Trail, Orchard, Rocks & Roots and Deadmans Point Loop will scratch that itch.
The crown jewel (in the eyes of the right beholder) of the Blue Mountain system is a giant loop to the top of Blue Mountain (see Trailforks route). From the lookout tower at the top, a super rowdy and loose 3,000 ft descent will take you all the way back down to the main trailhead. See the route entitled Deadmans Ridge - Big Loop.
Rides typically start from the main lower parking lot trailhead located at the corner of Blue Mountain Rd and Forest Hills Dr. Riders generally head up on the main Corridor Trail 3.04 or Out and Back 3.08 and aim for either Rocky Top or the Moto Trailhead. From either of these high points, a rider has several choices to descend for an after-work quickie, or one can head up higher to the top of the Hayes Creek descent (bonus points for doing the Summit Loop Trail). From here, its a fast flow fest back down on the Hayes Creek Trail and out Why Not (or double bonus for climbing back out Moto Line and dropping the front side (GI Joe/Carcass or Rocky Top/Out and Back)
If you're feeling exploratory and/or hankering for some rocks after riding the Rattlesnake
, moto trails like J's Trail, Orchard, Rocks & Roots and Deadmans Point Loop will scratch that itch. The crown jewel (in the eyes of the right beholder) of the Blue Mountain system is a giant loop to the top of Blue Mountain (see Trailforks route). From the lookout tower at the top, a super rowdy and loose 3,000 ft descent will take you all the way back down to the main trailhead. See the route entitled Deadmans Ridge - Big Loop.
source: Lolo NF
Primary Trail Type: Cross-Country
Land Status: National Forest
Land Manager: USFS
google parking directions plan a road trip here Access Info:
The main trailhead parking area is at the intersection of Blue Mountain Rd and Forest Hills Ln. There are also several parking areas along Blue Mountain Rd #365, including the Moto trailhead at the second switchback. Due to USFS rules on E-bike access, only the motorized trails accessible from the Moto trailhead are open to e-bikes.
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Region Supporters & Maintainers
![MTB Missoula]()
MTB MissoulaMaintainer
Activities Click to view
- Mountain Bike
61 trails
- E-Bike
19 trails
- Horse
53 trails
- Hike
76 trails
- Trail Running
76 trails
- Dirtbike/Moto
20 trails
- ATV/ORV/OHV
9 trails
- Snowshoe
55 trails
Region Details
- 9
- 14
- 31
- 7
Region Status
Open as of Sep 20, 2026Local Trail Association
Stats
- Avg Trail Rating
- Trails (view details)
- 77
- Trails Mountain Bike
- 61
- Trails E-Bike
- 19
- Trails Gravel Bike
- 24
- Trails Adaptive Bike
- 3
- Trails Winter Fat Bike
- 26
- Trails Horse
- 53
- Trails Hike
- 76
- Trails Trail Running
- 76
- Trails Dirtbike/Moto
- 20
- Trails ATV/ORV/OHV
- 9
- Trails Snowshoe
- 55
- Trails Backcountry Ski
- 3
- Total Distance
- 136 miles
- Total Descent
- 28,525 ft
- Total Vertical
- 5,129 ft
- Highest Trailhead
- 8,243 ft
- Reports
- 1,492
- Photos
- 292
- Completed Counter
- 15,025
Popular Blue Mountain Mountain Biking Trails
• 85 ★ 3.5 • 2 miles • 747 ft • 583 •
Main thoroughfare good access from the main Blue Mountain trailhead to the Moto Trailhead.
• 90 ★ 3.3 • 2,382 ft • 0 ft • 567 •
Fun fast decent but watch out for the logs at the end to keep Motorcycles out.
• 85 ★ 4.1 • 1 mile • 7 ft • 554 •
Great biking decent, However beware of motorcycles coming up the trail. Super fun berms and flow.
• 90 ★ 4.3 • 3,581 ft • 38 ft • 484 •
Access from Moto trailhead. The first section is fun single track, the second decent is steep and rocky with multiple small drops with options for bigger. Watch for loose rock.
• 85 ★ 2.5 • 1,568 ft • 27 ft • 454 •
Great way to link up Flying the Flow and Orchard
• 90 ★ 3.5 • 4,711 ft • 303 ft • 400 •
The trail starts with a mellow traverse across an open grassy slope passing by a spring as it climbs toward the trees. The trail enters the forest and switchbacks up the hill passing by several small rocky cliffs. After reaching a...
• 85 ★ 2.8 • 1 mile • 152 ft • 398 •
The lower portion of the Blue Mountain National Recreation Trail starts at the main parking lot and climbs up a broad dirt path to the northwest. The trail narrows before entering the first of two draws and then traverses across an open...
Blue Mountain Mountain Bike Routes
★ 5.0 • 17 miles • 3,291 ft • 24 • Loop •
Wanna do Deadmans Ridge with (or without) a shuttle? This is it. This loop takes some dedication going up...
★ 5.0 • 4 miles • 76 ft • 1 •
This is one of our favorite routes in Missoula and is featured in Freehub Magazine's Montana Photo Book:...
★ 2.0 • 7 miles • 1,191 ft • 2 •
A classic Blue Mountain route with a little bit of everything. The climb is mostly gradual and varied...
10 miles • 2,428 ft • 3 • Shuttled •
Maybe the easiest true alpine ride you'll ever do. You can shuttle from Fort Fizzle on Hwy 12 up to the...
★ 3.0 • 10 miles • 1,984 ft • 20 • Loop •
This is a good quick sampler of the trails at Blue Mountain. Takes you on a few of the classic front side...
★ 2.5 • 8 miles • 1,466 ft • 14 • Loop •
A chill afternoon loop with a flowy descent down Hayes Creek and a more technical descent down Orchard trail.
Photos of Blue Mountain Mountain Bike
Videos of Blue Mountain Mountain Bike
Recent Trail Reports
| status | trail | date | condition | info | user |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mill Creek | Sep 20, 2026 @ 4:58pm (America/Denver) Sep 20, 2026 | Ideal | rfades | ||
| Carlton Ridge | Sep 20, 2026 @ 4:57pm (America/Denver) Sep 20, 2026 | Ideal | rfades | ||
| Rocky Top | Sep 20, 2026 @ 1:01pm (America/Creston) Sep 20, 2026 | Ideal | johncc | ||
| Hayes Point | Sep 10, 2026 @ 12:47pm (America/Creston) Sep 10, 2026 | Very Dry | johncc | ||
| South O'Brien Creek Loop | Jul 18, 2026 @ 7:17am (America/Denver) Jul 18, 2026 | Very Dry | werbellml | ||
| Rocks n Roots | Jul 17, 2026 @ 12:54pm (America/Denver) Jul 17, 2026 | Very Dry | qT0wZzBC | ||
| Moto Line | Jun 17, 2026 @ 12:03pm (America/Creston) Jun 17, 2026 | Dry | johncc | ||
| Orchard | Jun 17, 2026 @ 12:03pm (America/Creston) Jun 17, 2026 | Dry | johncc | ||
| 6.01 - Moto Trail | Jun 17, 2026 @ 12:03pm (America/Creston) Jun 17, 2026 | Dry | johncc | ||
| Blue Mountain Lookout | May 11, 2026 @ 9:37am (America/Denver) May 11, 2026 | Variable | aaronrbaldwin TRAILFORKS |
Activity Feed
| username | action | type | title | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| question | wishlist | trail | activity #106414522 | Oct 22, 2026 @ 6:36pm Oct 22, 2026 |
| ScottwzTfhO | wishlist | trail | activity #106315199 | Oct 21, 2026 @ 1:47am Oct 21, 2026 |
| ZackaryJ | vote | trail | activity #106227272 and 3 more | Oct 19, 2026 @ 2:43pm Oct 19, 2026 |
| ZackaryJ | ridden | trail | activity #106227227 and 10 more | Oct 19, 2026 @ 2:43pm Oct 19, 2026 |
| LeGrandLife | wishlist | route | activity #105758242 | Oct 12, 2026 @ 10:59am Oct 12, 2026 |
Recent Comments
| username | type | title | comment | date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| report | Definitely hit this early in the season,... | Sep 21, 2026 @ 3:02pm Sep 21, 2026 | ||
| trail | Nice route to the top with no real grunts. | May 28, 2026 @ 1:06pm May 28, 2026 | ||
| trail | Good trail to find “moto washboards “. As... | May 28, 2026 @ 1:03pm May 28, 2026 | ||
| trail | Fallen trees make it impassable as of this date. | May 28, 2026 @ 12:59pm May 28, 2026 | ||
| report | It’s money! Only ~3 or 4 puddles and no mud. | Apr 25, 2026 @ 11:34am Apr 25, 2026 |
Nearby Areas
| name | distance | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Hills | 17 | 6 | 5.5 km | ||
| Pattee Canyon | 32 | 16 | 4 | 8.7 km | |
| Dean Stone | 4 | 6 | 10.1 km | ||
| Marshall Mountain | 7 | 10 | 3 | 1 | 13.3 km |
| Petty Mountain | 4 | 2 | 1 | 13.5 km |
Local Badges
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Completionist0 awarded
Activity Type Stats
| activitytype | trails | distance | descent | descent distance | total vertical | rating | global rank | state rank | photos | reports | routes | activity logs |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mountain Bike | 61 | 118 miles | 27,139 ft | 56 miles | 5,069 ft | #1,056 | #5 | 279 | 1,476 | 21 | 10,020 | |
| E-Bike | 19 | 47 miles | 12,864 ft | 24 miles | 3,898 ft | #3,183 | #36 | 3 | 1,306 | 238 | ||
| Gravel Bike | 24 | 75 miles | 10,259 ft | 27 miles | 3,957 ft | #772 | #393 | 297 | 37 | |||
| Adaptive Bike | 3 | 13 miles | 3,530 ft | 9 miles | 2,562 ft | #773 | #393 | 71 | ||||
| Winter Fat Bike | 26 | 49 miles | 7,575 ft | 21 miles | 2,635 ft | #772 | #393 | 121 | 1 | |||
| Horse | 53 | 93 miles | 17,933 ft | 36 miles | 5,069 ft | #399 | #24 | 480 | 1 | 1 | ||
| Hike | 76 | 134 miles | 27,543 ft | 59 miles | 5,128 ft | #1,063 | #25 | 10 | 1,485 | 3 | 1,300 | |
| Trail Running | 76 | 134 miles | 27,543 ft | 59 miles | 5,128 ft | #597 | #16 | 1,485 | 3 | 2,558 | ||
| Dirtbike/Moto | 20 | 51 miles | 14,800 ft | 28 miles | 3,898 ft | #502 | #15 | 379 | 34 | |||
| ATV/ORV/OHV | 9 | 37 miles | 7,044 ft | 16 miles | 3,898 ft | #389 | #20 | 320 | 1 | |||
| Snowshoe | 55 | 85 miles | 15,883 ft | 32 miles | 5,128 ft | #163 | #9 | 188 | 7 | |||
| Backcountry Ski | 3 | 8 miles | 4,554 ft | 6 miles | 4,580 ft | 27 | 20 |
Frequently Asked Questions
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What are the highest rated mountain biking trails in Blue Mountain?
The highest rated mountain biking trails in Blue Mountain are:
- Carlton Ridge (4.5/5)
- Mill Creek (4.4/5)
- Rocks n Roots (4.3/5)
- Orchard (4.2/5)
- Carcass (4.2/5)
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What is the best time of the year to ride in Blue Mountain?
Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride in Blue Mountain are:
- April (139 activities)
- August (135 activities)
- June (132 activities)
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Where can I park to ride in Blue Mountain?
There are 16 parking locations listed in Blue Mountain. The most popular parking spots are: View all parking and trailhead locations on the map to plan your visit.
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What is the longest trail in Blue Mountain?
The longest trail in Blue Mountain is Grave Creek Growler at 21.7 km. View all trails sorted by distance.
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What are the best & highest rated hiking trails in Blue Mountain?
The best hiking trails in Blue Mountain are:
- Bitteroot Runoff Trail
- Bitteroot Runoff Trail
- Bitteroot Runoff Trail
- Bitteroot Runoff Trail
- Bitteroot Runoff Trail
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What are the best & highest rated trail running trails in Blue Mountain?
The best trail running trails in Blue Mountain are: View all trail running trails sorted by popularity score.
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What are the best & highest rated dirtbiking trails in Blue Mountain?
The best dirtbiking trails in Blue Mountain are: View all dirtbiking trails sorted by popularity score.
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How many trails are in Blue Mountain?
Blue Mountain has a total of 77 trails. Of those, 61 are designated for mountain biking. Browse top mountain biking trails in Blue Mountain to find detailed information including difficulty ratings, distances, and trail conditions.
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Which trail has the most elevation gain in Blue Mountain?
The trail with the most elevation gain in Blue Mountain is Grave Creek Growler with 1,328 m of elevation gain. View all trails sorted by elevation gain.
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Which trail has the most elevation descent in Blue Mountain?
The trail with the most elevation descent in Blue Mountain is Grave Creek Growler with 870 m of elevation descent. View all trails sorted by elevation descent.
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What activities are most popular in Blue Mountain?
Blue Mountain supports the following activities: Mountain Biking, E-Biking, Horseback, Hiking, Trail Running, Dirtbiking, ATVing/Offroading, Snowshoeing.
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What are the steepest mountain biking trails in Blue Mountain?
The steepest mountain biking trail in Blue Mountain is T-bone Connectoe with an average grade of 13.3%. View all trails sorted by grade.
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Are there any trails with scenic viewpoints in Blue Mountain?
Yes, there are 3 scenic viewpoints marked along trails in Blue Mountain. Some popular viewpoints include: Explore more points of interest to find trails with the best views.
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Are the trails open in Blue Mountain?
The overall region status for Blue Mountain is Clear / Green. Out of 64 trails:
- Clear / Green: 53
- Minor Issue / Yellow: 8
- Significant Issue / Amber: 3
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Can I ride an ebike in Blue Mountain?
Yes, Blue Mountain supports e-bike riding. There are 19 trails in Blue Mountain that allow e-bikes. Check the e-bike trails listing for specific trail access details and any local regulations.
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What are the most popular mountain biking routes in Blue Mountain?
The most popular mountain biking routes in Blue Mountain are: View all mountain biking routes in Blue Mountain.
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What type of bike is most common in Blue Mountain?
Based on activity log data, the most common bike types used in Blue Mountain are:
- AM (96 activities)
- XC (2 activities)
- RD (1 activities)
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What are the most popular Strava Segments in Blue Mountain?
The most popular Strava segments in Blue Mountain are:
- Can't have nice cheeks if you don't earn em' (1,938 athletes)
- Out Hayes Creek (1,559 athletes)
- Zipline Climb (1,524 athletes)
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What are the most popular mountain biking trails in Blue Mountain?
The most popular mountain biking trails in Blue Mountain are: View all mountain biking trails sorted by popularity.
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What are the best beginner ride trails in Blue Mountain?
The best beginner mountain biking trails in Blue Mountain are:
- Why Not (3.3/5)
- Pawn (2.5/5)
- Hayes Creek (3.7/5)
Activities
Trails
Points of Interest
- By Fanderson
& contributors - Admins: MMBC, aaronrbaldwin, MMBC
- #7434 - 24,757 views
- blue mountain activity log | embed map of Blue Mountain mountain bike trails | blue mountain mountain biking points of interest polygons
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