more stats
2,762 ft
Distance
80 ft
Climb
-13 ft
Descent
00:05:33
Avg time
69 ft
Altitude change
5,082 ft
Altitude min
5,164 ft
Altitude max
5,095 ft
Altitude start
5,164 ft
Altitude end
2.5%
Grade
-8.1%
Grade max
17.6%
Grade min
1,608 ft
Distance climb
469 ft
Distance down
686 ft
Distance flat
00:05:33
Avg time

Backside Trail Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Snowshoe
  • Riding Area
    South Hills
    Helena, Montana
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Local Popularity
    75 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in Trail Running
    • 90 in Hiking
    • 5 in Snowshoeing
  • Global Ranking
    #127950 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #103359 in Trail Running
    • #70512 in Hiking
    • #21278 in Snowshoeing
  • State Ranking
    #1,025 in Mountain Biking · Montana [+]
    • #1,213 in Trail Running
    • #877 in Hiking
    • #646 in Snowshoeing
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
  • Land Owner
    City of Helena

The Backside Trail is short but fun, and includes a few small rock features. It's mostly a connection between the Ridge Trail and Hogsback or Prospect Shafts. The grade is fairly level, and the trail offers nice views to the south.

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Trail Supporters

Local Trail Association

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 1 rides
  • 4 miles average
6 Months
  • 10 rides
  • 14 miles avg distance
All
  • 80 rides
  • Last: Oct 20, 2026
update trails status or condition

Backside Trail Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jan 4, 2026 @ 4:20pm (America/Denver)
Jan 4, 2026
reporter Alternating wet mud and hard ice. Studded fat tires recommended.
Nov 28, 2025 @ 9:24am (America/Denver)
Nov 28, 2025
reporter Snow on 11/27
Sep 1, 2025 @ 8:06am
Sep 1, 2025
Apr 19, 2025 @ 1:54pm
Apr 19, 2025
reporter
Nov 16, 2024 @ 12:03pm
Nov 16, 2024
reporter Snowfall on Nov 15th
more »
Status:
on Jan 4, 2026
Freeze/thaw Cycle
Avg: 3.89 (4 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (793)
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      Directions to backside-trail trailhead (46.588300, -112.071430)

      Photos

      4 more »
      mtb
      87 |
      Sep 26, 2023 @ 11:40am
      Sep 26, 2023
      mtb
      79 |
      Sep 26, 2023 @ 11:40am
      Sep 26, 2023
      mtb
      73 |
      Jul 12, 2022 @ 11:13am
      Jul 12, 2022
      mtb
      148 |
      May 18, 2017 @ 4:53pm
      May 18, 2017

      Videos

      1 more »
      Double black mountain biking in Helena - Hogsback
      mtb
      12:23 | 463 | May 13, 2020 , Helena

      Trail Lists

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      ★ 4.0 • 6 miles • 1,401 ft • 6 • Loop •
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      3.8 ★★★★★
      4 Ratings
      5 ★ 25%
      4 ★ 25%
      3 ★ 50%
      2 ★
      1 ★

      Reviews / Comments

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      • By drewswayne & contributors
      • #5181 - 2,506 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Backside Trail located?
      Backside Trail is located in South Hills, Helena, Montana, United States. It is part of the South Hills trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 46.5883, -112.07143.
      ▼ How hard is Backside Trail?
      Backside Trail is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 2.5%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Backside Trail?
      Backside Trail has 80 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 13 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 5,082 ft to 5,164 ft.
      ▼ Is Backside Trail a point to point trail?
      Backside Trail is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Backside Trail?
      Backside Trail is 2,762 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Backside Trail?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Backside Trail. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Backside Trail? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Backside Trail are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Backside Trail?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 6 minutes to ride Backside Trail. The trail is 2,762 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Backside Trail?
      Backside Trail is a very popular trail. There have been 798 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 793 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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