more stats
681 ft
Distance
16 ft
Climb
-12 ft
Descent
00:01:07
Avg time
4 ft
Altitude change
4,997 ft
Altitude min
5,013 ft
Altitude max
4,997 ft
Altitude start
5,000 ft
Altitude end
0.524%
Grade
-8.345%
Grade max
6.456%
Grade min
418 ft
Distance climb
263 ft
Distance down
00:01:07
Avg time

Hard Start Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Winter Fat Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
    • Snowshoe
  • Riding Area
    South Hills
    Helena, Montana
  • Difficulty Rating
    Green Rate
  • Local Popularity
    5 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
    • 5 in Snowshoeing
    • 5 in Winter Fat Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #253673 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #283709 in Trail Running
    • #296030 in Hiking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Fat
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Green
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Sometimes hard to follow
  • Family Friendly
    Yes
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    Private

Challenging alternative start to Flume Trail.

Access Info Restricted Access

This trail crosses private land

Trail Supporters
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 0 rides
  •  
All
  • 3 rides
  • Last: Jul 14, 2025
update trails status or condition

Hard Start 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 @ 9:25am (America/Denver)
Nov 28, 2025
 reporter Snow on 11/27
Nov 16, 2024 @ 12:08pm
Nov 16, 2024
 reporter Snowfall on Nov 15th
May 10, 2024 @ 4:59pm
May 10, 2024
 reporter 2" slush + 70* day = hero dirt
Apr 15, 2024 @ 7:15am
Apr 15, 2024
 reporter After 3 warm days, pretty much good to go. Use judgement on the highest and darkest trails, though.
more »
Status:
on Jan 4, 2026
Freeze/thaw Cycle
no votes yet
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to hard-start trailhead (46.543910, -112.059430)
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      Nearby Trails

      South Hills

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Hard Start located?
      Hard Start is located in South Hills, Helena, Montana, United States. It is part of the South Hills trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 46.54391, -112.05943.
      ▼ How hard is Hard Start?
      Hard Start is rated as Green difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 0.524%. The climb difficulty is rated Green.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Hard Start?
      Hard Start has 16 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 12 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 4,997 ft to 5,013 ft.
      ▼ Is Hard Start a point to point trail?
      Hard Start is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Hard Start?
      Hard Start is 681 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Hard Start?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on Hard Start. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ How do I access Hard Start? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Hard Start are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Hard Start?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 1 minute to ride Hard Start. The trail is 681 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Hard Start?
      Hard Start is a less popular trail with lighter traffic. There have been 40 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 44 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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