more stats
1,650 ft
Distance
2 ft
Climb
-248 ft
Descent
00:01:42
Avg time
-246 ft
Altitude change
3 ft
Altitude min
3 ft
Altitude max
4,249 ft
Altitude start
4,003 ft
Altitude end
-14.9%
Grade
-38.7%
Grade max
2.3%
Grade min
98 ft
Distance climb
1,522 ft
Distance down
30 ft
Distance flat
00:01:42
Avg time

Lower Headwall Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
  • Riding Area
    Marshall Mountain
    Missoula, Montana
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    100 in Mountain Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #48289 in Mountain Biking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    DH, AM
  • Direction
    Downhill Only
    Popular Direction Shown
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    City of Missoula

Steep and narrow descent through a series of sharp committing switchbacks.

Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 11 rides
  • 8 miles average
6 Months
  • 162 rides
  • 9 miles avg distance
All
  • 986 rides
  • Last: Sep 21, 2026
c1c2c3c4
January
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Status:
on Jun 23, 2026
Very Dry
Avg: 3.9 (5 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (5,999)
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      Directions to lower-headwall trailhead (46.918750, -113.903860)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      No photos have been added for Lower Headwall yet, add a photo.

      Videos

      2 more »
      2023 Mullet Classic - Marshall Mountain -...
      mtb
      5:33 | 465 | Jun 4, 2023 , Missoula
      Headwall (Upper + Lower) - Missoula, MT
      mtb
      2:25 | 487 | Jun 29, 2022 , Missoula

      Routes with this trail

      25
      Marshall Mountain Mostly Blue Route
      ★ 4.0 • 8 miles • 1,847 ft • 7 • Loop •
      Loop to ride , , and .
      24
      TGIF 6 - Every Trail at Marshall
      9 miles • 2,181 ft • 11 • Loop • Race •
      The last race of the TGIF series, every trail at Marshall.
      1
      Missoula XC new UCI lap
      4 miles • 1,119 ft • 10 • Loop • Race •
      Missoula XC long course for UCI races. Adds extra climb up lower and descends bottom of Bjorn.
      3.8 ★★★★★
      5 Ratings
      5 ★ 40%
      4 ★ 20%
      3 ★ 20%
      2 ★ 20%
      1 ★

      Reviews / Comments

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      Nearby Trails

      Marshall Mountain

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      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is Lower Headwall located?
      Lower Headwall is located in Marshall Mountain, Missoula, Montana, United States. It is part of the Marshall Mountain trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 46.91875, -113.90386.
      ▼ How hard is Lower Headwall?
      Lower Headwall is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 14.9%.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for Lower Headwall?
      Lower Headwall has 2 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 248 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 3 ft to 3 ft.
      ▼ Is Lower Headwall a point to point trail?
      Yes, Lower Headwall is a point to point trail. The direction is Downhill Only. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ How long is Lower Headwall?
      Lower Headwall is 1,650 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Lower Headwall?
      There is no information about dogs being allowed on Lower Headwall. Check with local trail managers or the trail page for the latest access rules.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Lower Headwall?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Lower Headwall are:
      • June (128 activities)
      • May (119 activities)
      • August (91 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access Lower Headwall? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Lower Headwall are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Lower Headwall?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 33 minutes to ride Lower Headwall. The trail is 1,650 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Lower Headwall?
      Lower Headwall is a very popular trail. There have been 5,663 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 5,999 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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