more stats
5,052 ft
Distance
11 ft
Climb
-334 ft
Descent
00:04:23
Avg time
-323 ft
Altitude change
4,003 ft
Altitude min
4,326 ft
Altitude max
4,326 ft
Altitude start
4,003 ft
Altitude end
-6.4%
Grade
-26.1%
Grade max
2.1%
Grade min
741 ft
Distance climb
3,865 ft
Distance down
446 ft
Distance flat
00:04:23
Avg time

North Loop Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Gravel Bike
    • Winter Fat Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Rattlesnake National Recreation Area
    Missoula, Montana
  • Difficulty Rating
    Green Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Green (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    85 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 90 in Trail Running
    • 90 in Hiking
    • 5 in Winter Fat Biking
    • 90 in Gravel Biking
  • Global Ranking
    #112230 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #69594 in Trail Running
    • #40101 in Hiking
    • #33617 in Winter Fat Biking
    • #9849 in Gravel Biking
  • State Ranking
    #836 in Mountain Biking · Montana [+]
    • #815 in Trail Running
    • #430 in Hiking
    • #990 in Winter Fat Biking
    • #128 in Gravel Biking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T2 Mountain Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Doubletrack
  • Bike Type
    DH, AM, XC, Fat, Gravel
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    May - November
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • Land Owner
    City of Missoula

Mostly a moderate climb from the Jumbo Saddle to access the Sound of Music and Sidewinder trails. The grade steepens right at the end. It's more direct and a little harder than climbing up Lincoln Road but easier than climbing Sound of Music.

Disclaimer

Closed in winter (12/1 - 5/1)

Tags

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 99 rides
  • 13 miles avg distance
All
  • 504 rides
  • Last: Oct 29, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Sep 26, 2026
Very Dry
Avg: 3.66 (3 votes)
Your vote: 0

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      Directions to north-loop-88524 trailhead (46.905210, -113.935970)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      1 more »
      mtb
      47 |
      Jul 11, 2023 @ 6:50pm
      Jul 11, 2023
      Wildflowers 1

      Videos

      no videos have been added for North Loop yet, add a video.

      Routes with this trail

      16
      Sound of Music via North Loop
      4 miles • 739 ft • 5 •
      A lollipop loop combining the North Loop and Sound of Music trails.
      100
      TNR Three Larch, Sidewinder, & Sound of Music
      ★ 2.0 • 13 miles • 2,491 ft • 19 • Loop •
      The route combines three of Missoula's best mountain bike trails into one ride.
      28
      Lincoln Hills Figure 8
      10 miles • 2,155 ft • 26 • Loop •
      Figure 8 from Lincoln single track --> freefalling --> sidewinder and sons --> lincoln road climb...

      Links

      3.0 ★★★★★
      3 Ratings
      5 ★ 33%
      4 ★
      3 ★
      2 ★ 67%
      1 ★

      Reviews / Comments

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      Nearby Trails

      Rattlesnake National Recreation Area

      • By MONTANABIKERMANTF Pro FTF & contributors
      • #88524 - 2,182 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ Where is North Loop located?
      North Loop is located in Rattlesnake National Recreation Area, Missoula, Montana, United States. It is part of the Rattlesnake National Recreation Area trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 46.90521, -113.93597.
      ▼ How hard is North Loop?
      North Loop is rated as Green difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 6.4%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
      ▼ What is the elevation gain for North Loop?
      North Loop has 11 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 334 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 4,003 ft to 4,326 ft.
      ▼ Is North Loop a point to point trail?
      North Loop is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is doubletrack.
      ▼ How long is North Loop?
      North Loop is 5,052 ft long. The trail type is doubletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on North Loop?
      Yes, dogs are allowed on North Loop. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
      ▼ When is the best time of year to ride North Loop?
      Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride North Loop are:
      • May (47 activities)
      • June (39 activities)
      • August (37 activities)
      Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
      ▼ How do I access North Loop? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to North Loop are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride North Loop?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 4 minutes to ride North Loop. The trail is 5,052 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is North Loop?
      North Loop is a very popular trail. There have been 2,710 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 2,742 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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