6.7 miles
Distance
1,168 ft
Climb
-816 ft
Descent
01:14:39
Avg time
Supporters, Builders, Maintainers & Land Managers of CDT - Bear Gulch to Highlands TH Trail

  • USFS
    Land Manager

Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Highland Mountains
    Butte, Montana
  • AKA
  • Difficulty Rating
  • Voted Difficulty
    Blue (1 vote)
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    DH, AM, XC, Fat
  • Direction
    Both Directions
    Popular in reverse
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • Global Ranking
    #14032 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #76418 in Hiking
  • Local Popularity
    75 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 85 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking

This section of the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) is usually ridden as part of a large loop rather than my itself, as it doesn't particularly have many drawing qualities such as summits, views, or flow. It is one of the slowest and more notorious sections of the Butte 50/100 Mountain Bike Race, as the constant ups and downs combined with a rough trail surface leave little time for coasting.

Access Info

Trail is most easily accessed from the southern end at Highlands Trailhead on Highlands Road. From the north it branches off from Bear Gulch ATV Trail and is signposted.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
More Stats for CDT - Bear Gulch to Highlands TH multi-use trail trail
  • Altitude change
    352 ft
  • Altitude min
    6,970 ft
  • Altitude max
    7,536 ft
  • Altitude start
    6,970 ft
  • Altitude end
    7,323 ft
  • Grade
    1%
  • Grade max
    -30%
  • Grade min
    36.6%
  • Distance climb
    4 miles
  • Distance down
    2 miles
  • Distance flat
    3,658 ft
  • Avg time
    01:14:39
  • Avg reverse time
    01:15:30
  • view trail stats
Status:
on Jun 24, 2025
Ideal
Avg: 4.1 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

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Trail Conditions
  • Unknown
  • Snow Groomed
  • Snow Packed
  • Snow Covered
  • Snow Cover Partial
  • Freeze/thaw Cycle
  • Icy
  • Prevalent Mud
  • Wet
  • Variable
  • Ideal
  • Dry
  • Very Dry
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      Directions to cdt-bear-gulch-to-highlands-th trailhead (45.826840, -112.577120)
      update trails status or condition

      CDT - Bear Gulch... Trail Reports

      statusdatedescription
      Jun 24, 2025 @ 3:31pm
      Jun 24, 2025
      we finished clearing the center mile of this section of the CDT that didn't get done during the Pete Sorini Logout day 7 June. So it should all be...
      Jun 15, 2025 @ 7:04pm
      Jun 15, 2025
      reporter This is a 2nd hand report from someone who ride it today: there are 12 trees down mostly between the long bridges.
      Jun 6, 2025 @ 12:24pm
      Jun 6, 2025
      191 trees down. 100 in the 1st mile from the campground, then 91 more spread across the remaining trail to Bear Gulch.
      Nov 1, 2024 @ 8:20am
      Nov 1, 2024
      reporter I rode this trail from Bear Gulch to Highlands Pass. There is about a dozen trees down similar to the last report (although for this area I...
      Oct 20, 2024 @ 8:27am
      Oct 20, 2024
      reporter A dozen trees down between campground and bear creek
      view all reports »

      Recent Ridelog Activity on Trail

      Past Week
      • 2 rides
      • 26 miles avg distance
      6 Months
      • 3 rides
      • 24 miles avg distance
      All
      • 43 rides
      • Last: Jul 13, 2025

      Photos

      more »
      106 |
      Aug 1, 2018 @ 1:47pm
      Aug 1, 2018
      84 |
      Aug 1, 2018 @ 1:47pm
      Aug 1, 2018
      97 |
      Aug 1, 2018 @ 1:46pm
      Aug 1, 2018
      78 |
      Aug 1, 2018 @ 1:46pm
      Aug 1, 2018

      Trail Lists

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      Butte 100 MTB Race Course 2021 race100 miles
      (OLD) Butte 100 Race Course race100 miles

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      1 Review & Comments


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