29.6 miles
Distance
7,136 ft
Climb
-5,959 ft
Descent
1 mile
High Point

R1K Reverse Snake for September

Detailed Description
Reverse Snake is a 30 mile less popular intermediate route located near Missoula Montana. This mountain bike only route can be used one direction. This route includes 38 trails. This route climbs 7,136 ft with a max elevation of 5,466 ft then descends -5,959 ft.
Local Trail Association
Local trail association
MTB Missoula (www.mtbmissoula.org)
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58 Reviews & Comments

  • + 0
Zissou30 (Jun 5, 2022 at 17:30)
Trail Sound of Music
Soon to be the best flow trail in Missoula once the extension is finished.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Alex9XbS1e (Jun 3, 2022 at 12:25)
Trail Sawmill Gulch
After about 1.3 miles there’s a junction with a sign indicating Sawmill Gulch is to the right - ignore that. The direction it’s pointing is The Burn. Make a left to stay on Sawmill Gulch and continue on to Fence Line, which is super fun.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Alex9XbS1e (Jun 3, 2022 at 12:25)
Trail Sawmill Gulch
After about 1.3 miles there’s a junction with a sign indicating Sawmill Gulch is to the right - ignore that. The direction it’s pointing is The Burn. Make a left to stay on Sawmill Gulch and continue on to Fence Line, which is super fun.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Alex9XbS1e (Jun 3, 2022 at 12:25)
Trail Sawmill Gulch
After about 1.3 miles there’s a junction with a sign indicating Sawmill Gulch is to the right - ignore that. The direction it’s pointing is The Burn. Make a left to stay on Sawmill Gulch and continue on to Fence Line, which is super fun.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Alex9XbS1e (Jun 3, 2022 at 12:25)
Trail Sawmill Gulch
After about 1.3 miles there’s a junction with a sign indicating Sawmill Gulch is to the right - ignore that. The direction it’s pointing is The Burn. Make a left to stay on Sawmill Gulch and continue on to Fence Line, which is super fun.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Alex9XbS1e (Jun 3, 2022 at 12:25)
Trail Sawmill Gulch
After about 1.3 miles there’s a junction with a sign indicating Sawmill Gulch is to the right - ignore that. The direction it’s pointing is The Burn. Make a left to stay on Sawmill Gulch and continue on to Fence Line, which is super fun.
[Reply]
  • + 0
Alex9XbS1e (Jun 3, 2022 at 12:25)
Trail Sawmill Gulch
After about 1.3 miles there’s a junction with a sign indicating Sawmill Gulch is to the right - ignore that. The direction it’s pointing is The Burn. Make a left to stay on Sawmill Gulch and continue on to Fence Line, which is super fun.
[Reply]
  • + 1
lant8 (Sep 23, 2021 at 8:44)
Trail North Loop
It is so hard to actually get a map to show up this site is worthless
[Reply]
  • + 1
lant8 (Sep 23, 2021 at 8:44)
Trail North Loop
It is so hard to actually get a map to show up this site is worthless
[Reply]
  • + 1
lant8 (Sep 23, 2021 at 8:44)
Trail North Loop
It is so hard to actually get a map to show up this site is worthless
[Reply]
  • + 0
rth009 (Jun 27, 2021 at 15:11)
Trail Sheep Mountain
4 large trees Down on the sheep Mountain Trail after you start climbing again after you descend from the blue point trail intersection.
[Reply]
  • + 1
Azdolan (Jun 6, 2021 at 22:19)
Trail Sheep Mountain
The directions are mostly correct accept for the junction with Blue Point. At this intersection you start to descend for a few hundred feet as you continue out to Sheep.
[Reply]
  • + 0
bizango-x (May 30, 2021 at 13:02)
Trail Steep Curry
I agree with the other comment. Only ride cw. Not a great descent though. I feel like a lot of altitude was wasted.
[Reply]
  • + 0
bizango-x (May 30, 2021 at 13:00)
Trail Sawmill Curry
“This sucks “. Those words came out of my mouth pushing up the heinous steep sections.
[Reply]
  • + 0
bizango-x (May 30, 2021 at 12:58)
Trail Fenceline
Very fun downhill. Not a pure descent, but that’s part of what I like about it.
[Reply]
  • + 0
bizango-x (May 30, 2021 at 12:58)
Trail Fenceline
Very fun downhill. Not a pure descent, but that’s part of what I like about it.
[Reply]
  • + 0
bizango-x (May 30, 2021 at 12:58)
Trail Fenceline
Very fun downhill. Not a pure descent, but that’s part of what I like about it.
[Reply]
  • + 0
bizango-x (May 30, 2021 at 8:03)
Trail Sound of Music
Fun, well built trail. Nice way to end the ride.
[Reply]
  • + 0
bizango-x (May 30, 2021 at 8:00)
Trail Three Larch
Very nice trail. Some ups and downs and medium tech sections keep to interesting.
[Reply]
  • + 0
frijoles88 (Apr 14, 2021 at 14:08)
Trail Ewok
Its a two way trail...just like every other trail on the national forest.
[Reply]
  • + 1
DanHMT (Apr 11, 2021 at 16:00)
Trail Ewok
Most locals ride up the paved road right next to this. Some do ride up it the trail, many(not all) of them tend to be self important, uppity climbers that act like dicks even when you’re a courteous descender that yields to uphill traffic.
[Reply]
  • + 1
ladyloam (Jun 22, 2020 at 8:25)
Trail Sheep Mountain
you'd have to be a beast to finish the entire loop in 4 hours. Not impossible, but 6 hours with stops is more reasonable.
[Reply]
  • + 0
iamhans (May 23, 2020 at 8:22)
Trail Main Corridor
Pretty dry to The bridge, then gets wet. Some parts of the trail were full on streams. Two trees down in the last mile before the wilderness boundary. The ride back down hill through the trail/stream was COLD.
[Reply]
  • + 0
rmhdc (Sep 21, 2019 at 12:28)
Trail Steep Curry
If you ride this trail- only do it in a clockwise direction- it’s almost unclimbable counter clockwise!
[Reply]
  • + 0
fguerouate (Aug 21, 2019 at 17:56)
Trail Spring Gulch
Super fun flowy trail.
[Reply]
  • + 0
phouse (Aug 17, 2019 at 15:25)
Trail Fenceline
Conditions are awesome!! Fallen tree at the end
[Reply]
  • + 0
phouse (Aug 17, 2019 at 15:25)
Trail Fenceline
Conditions are awesome!! Fallen tree at the end
[Reply]
  • + 0
phouse (Aug 17, 2019 at 15:25)
Trail Fenceline
Conditions are awesome!! Fallen tree at the end
[Reply]
  • + 4
Xmahns (Aug 14, 2019 at 16:05)
Trail Ewok
FYI, though it is marked as up and down traffic, locals ride this trail downhill only spring, summer and fall. Winter you are good to go for uphill riding. Thanks.
[Reply]
  • + 2
beesearch (May 29, 2020 at 17:14)
Trail Ewok
which locals???
[Reply]
  • + 0
RobKong (Nov 14, 2020 at 14:27)
Trail Ewok
the ones who think they get to decide how everyone else rides. The ones who berate and even assault people who choose to climb on this trail.
[Reply]
  • + 0
live-free-mt (Nov 18, 2020 at 15:00)
Trail Ewok
Thats a little harsh when the original comment is just pointing out that the MAJORITY of trail users use this for downhill traffic during the normal season.
[Reply]
  • + 2
RobKong (Nov 18, 2020 at 17:31)
Trail Ewok
It doesn't say MAJORITY. It says "downhill only spring, summer and fall." That is absolutely not the case. You may want it to be the case, but if you come upon somebody climbing it, you need to yield to them. What is harsh is people yelling at folks who are well within their rights to climb on the trail. I had to fix the bike an older gentleman who was pushed off the trail, literally PUSHED off the trail by someone who insisted it was directional. That sort of behavior is inexcusable.
[Reply]
  • + 0
fguerouate (Jul 23, 2019 at 14:18)
Trail Wallman East
One f*cking hell of a climb. Had to hike it. Best go the other way around. Trail is pretty rocky
[Reply]
  • + 0
fguerouate (Jul 23, 2019 at 14:18)
Trail Wallman East
One f*cking hell of a climb. Had to hike it. Best go the other way around. Trail is pretty rocky
[Reply]
  • + 1
Unsungwindham (Feb 8, 2019 at 9:25)
Trail Wallman East
Rides more like a Black Diamond. Took my partner on it thinking it would be a good entry trail. It is very steep in sections
[Reply]
  • + 1
Unsungwindham (Feb 8, 2019 at 9:25)
Trail Wallman East
Rides more like a Black Diamond. Took my partner on it thinking it would be a good entry trail. It is very steep in sections
[Reply]
  • + 0
olafthemoose (Oct 3, 2018 at 21:36)
Trail North Loop
easy road climb
[Reply]
  • + 0
olafthemoose (Oct 3, 2018 at 21:36)
Trail North Loop
easy road climb
[Reply]
  • + 0
olafthemoose (Oct 3, 2018 at 21:36)
Trail North Loop
easy road climb
[Reply]
  • + 1
jmahler TRAILFORKS (Aug 19, 2018 at 8:02)
Trail Main Corridor
Just a long flat road ride :-(
[Reply]
  • + 4
jmahler TRAILFORKS (Aug 19, 2018 at 7:59)
Trail Ewok
Fun trail to rip down. It has some banked corners and wall rides and if you are going fast enough you can catch a little air. I wish there were more trails like this.
[Reply]
  • + 0
nomadreet (Aug 14, 2018 at 17:08)
Trail Spring Gulch
If you like FAST smooth trails that bomb downhill with minimal turns, you’ll love this. Goes by fast so enjoy every moment
[Reply]
  • - 1
nomadreet (Aug 14, 2018 at 17:06)
Trail Fenceline
It’s probably Best written down hill but the climb was a lot of fun and a hell of a workout. We pushed a little but most was rideable.
[Reply]
  • - 1
nomadreet (Aug 14, 2018 at 17:06)
Trail Fenceline
It’s probably Best written down hill but the climb was a lot of fun and a hell of a workout. We pushed a little but most was rideable.
[Reply]
  • - 1
nomadreet (Aug 14, 2018 at 17:06)
Trail Fenceline
It’s probably Best written down hill but the climb was a lot of fun and a hell of a workout. We pushed a little but most was rideable.
[Reply]
  • - 3
nomadreet (Aug 14, 2018 at 17:05)
Trail Ewok
Great green trail to ride up. We took this to Fenceline and rode that up!
[Reply]
  • + 0
NSmith11 (Jul 30, 2018 at 7:38)
Trail Ewok
Fun area to ride. I am an out of towner that rode this system a few times recently. I noted a couple things that were not clear. 1: GPS shows this trail on the SW side of the paved road. But I found no trail on that side. I did ride a trail that seems like it could be Ewok on the NE side of the paved road. If I have not ridden the wrong trail in error then perhaps the tracks should be updated. I can post mine if needed. 2: The description indicates a multi-use trail that is fun to ride down with caution for other users yet for some reason trailforks shows directional arrows for this trail suggesting it is an uphill only. That should be addressed probably by removing the directional arrows on this and all other multi use trails.
[Reply]
  • + 0
mtbmissoula (Jul 22, 2018 at 22:39)
Trail Main Corridor
A few large piles of bear scat on the trail
[Reply]
  • + 0
pjh754 (Jul 17, 2018 at 20:33)
Trail Main Corridor
If rocks are your archenemy, prepare.
[Reply]
  • + 0
MosaicMTBGuy (Aug 16, 2017 at 21:15)
Trail Dropout
One of the top descents in the Rattlesnake and the entire Missoula area especially when combined with Lower Fence line for a great Sawmill Gulch ride.
[Reply]
  • + 0
MosaicMTBGuy (Aug 16, 2017 at 21:15)
Trail Dropout
One of the top descents in the Rattlesnake and the entire Missoula area especially when combined with Lower Fence line for a great Sawmill Gulch ride.
[Reply]
  • + 0
MosaicMTBGuy (Aug 16, 2017 at 21:15)
Trail Dropout
One of the top descents in the Rattlesnake and the entire Missoula area especially when combined with Lower Fence line for a great Sawmill Gulch ride.
[Reply]
  • + 0
BradleyT (Aug 1, 2017 at 15:08)
Trail Spring Gulch
Could use some more turns. Seems like a good trail if you're in a hurry to get back to the parking lot.
[Reply]
  • + 2
bvwilliams MTBM (Oct 23, 2016 at 14:23)
Trail Spring Gulch
The first half of this trail, above the junction with Stuart Pk Trail, is widely known as Overlook or Snowbowl Overlook.
[Reply]
  • + 1
kntr (Mar 22, 2015 at 21:14)
Trail Wallman East
This is a great trail and can be done in both directions. I believe it is more fun to go up the West side trail and down East side trail. Its a real ripper. The water bars on the west side are fun and challenging to ride uphill. Everything in the Rattlesnake is fast, smooth and flowy.
[Reply]
  • + 1
kntr (Mar 22, 2015 at 21:14)
Trail Wallman East
This is a great trail and can be done in both directions. I believe it is more fun to go up the West side trail and down East side trail. Its a real ripper. The water bars on the west side are fun and challenging to ride uphill. Everything in the Rattlesnake is fast, smooth and flowy.
[Reply]
  • + 0
kntr (Mar 22, 2015 at 21:10)
Trail Sheep Mountain
This is a grinder. This trail can be done in both directions but I think Id rather drop down from Sheep Mountain into Lincoln Hills and ride up the Rattlesnake.
[Reply]





Trails in Route

Details

  • Riding area
    The Rattlesnake
  • Primary Activity
    Mountain Bike
  • Difficulty rating
    Blue
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Bike type
    XC
  • Direction
    One Direction
More Stats for Reverse Snake mountain bike route
  • Altitude change
    1,177 ft
  • Altitude min
    3,508 ft
  • Altitude start
    3,768 ft
  • Altitude end
    4,944 ft
  • Grade
    0.8%
  • Grade max
    -43.3%
  • Grade min
    98.3%
  • Distance climb
    14 miles
  • Distance down
    15 miles
  • Distance flat
    4,911 ft
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Photos

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Videos

more videos »
Snowbowl Overlook (North) - The Rattlesnake -...
Snowbowl Overlook (North) - The Rattlesnake - Missoula, MT
6:01 | 4 | comments: 0 | favs:
Aug 15, 2022
Snowbowl Overlook (South) - The Rattlesnake -...
Snowbowl Overlook (South) - The Rattlesnake - Missoula, MT
3:46 | 4 | comments: 0 | favs:
Aug 14, 2022

Recent Trail Reports Along Route

statustraildateconditiondescription
Sawmill Gulch
Aug 11, 2022 @ 5:56pm
Aug 11, 2022
Dropout
Aug 11, 2022 @ 5:56pm
Aug 11, 2022
Ewok
Aug 11, 2022 @ 5:56pm
Aug 11, 2022
Sound of Music
Jul 29, 2022 @ 7:59am
Jul 29, 2022
Upper section was firm for the most part, but the corners on the lower section were kinda loose.
Three Larch
Jul 28, 2022 @ 6:27am
Jul 28, 2022
more reports »
  • By bigskyjojo & contributors
  • #15418 - 393 views
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