more stats
8.2 miles
Distance
351 ft
Climb
-2,828 ft
Descent
00:58:35
Avg time
-2,476 ft
Altitude change
6,977 ft
Altitude min
9,459 ft
Altitude max
9,459 ft
Altitude start
6,982 ft
Altitude end
-5.7%
Grade
-35%
Grade max
26.8%
Grade min
1 mile
Distance climb
6 miles
Distance down
3,891 ft
Distance flat
00:58:35
Avg time

Second Yellow Mule Details

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • Horse
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Madison Range
    Big Sky, Montana
  • Difficulty Rating
    Blue Rate
  • Local Popularity
    90 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 60 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #51359 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #61552 in Trail Running
    • #122227 in Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC, Fat
  • Direction
    Both Directions
  • Climb Difficulty
    Black Diamond
  • Physical Rating
    Hard
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • Season
    June through September
  • Dogs Allowed
    Yes
  • eBike Allowed
    No
  • TTFs on Trail
    Rock Garden
  • Land Owner
    USFS

Another legendary trail accessed from the heart of Big Sky Town Center or Ousel Falls Trailhead. It's an "easier" climb to Buck Ridge than First Yellow Mule, but it will take longer and has more vertical overall. As a downhill it's flowy and fast, with some short climbs here and there. Killer loop in either direction when combined with First Yellow Mule and Buck Ridge. Grizzly bears live here, make noise. Not great when wet, but a lot better than First Yellow Mule.

Trail Supporters

  • USFS
    Land Manager
Local Trail Association
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 27 rides
  • 37 miles avg distance
All
  • 88 rides
  • Last: Aug 22, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Second Yellow Mule Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Aug 12, 2026 @ 8:06pm (America/Denver)
Aug 12, 2026
Aug 6, 2026 @ 2:24pm (America/Denver)
Aug 6, 2026
Jul 28, 2026 @ 9:20am (America/Boise)
Jul 28, 2026
 1 huge tree down.
Jul 16, 2026 @ 6:36pm (America/Denver)
Jul 16, 2026
 Horse damage healing, no big deal
Jul 11, 2026 @ 5:11pm (America/Denver)
Jul 11, 2026
 Trees all cleared. Horses really messed it up in the top section.
more »
Status:
on Aug 12, 2026
Dry
Avg: 4.21 (4 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
Trail Flow (Ridden Direction)
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The colour categories are based on what percentage of users are riding a trail in its intended direction.
  • > 96%
  • > 90%
  • > 80%
  • > 70%
  • > 50%
  • < 50%
  • bi-directional trail
  • no data
Trail Last Used
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  • < 2 days
  • < 1 week
  • < 2 weeks
  • < 1 month
  • < 6 months
  • > 6 months
Trail Ridden Direction
The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
  • Downhill Only
  • Downhill Primary
  • Both Directions
  • Uphill Primary
  • Uphill Only
  • One Direction
Contribute Details
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  • Description
  • Photos
  • Description & Photos
  • Videos
Trail Popularity ?
Trailforks scans activity logs to determine which trails are ridden the most in the last 9 months. Trails are compared with nearby trails in the same city region with a possible 25 colour shades. Think of this as a heatmap, more activities = more kinetic energy = warmer colors.
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BC Backroad Status

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        Directions to second-yellow-mule trailhead (45.181290, -111.422880)
        View on Discover Map

        Photos

        11 more »
        mtb
        25 |
        Jul 28, 2026 @ 6:19pm
        Jul 28, 2026
        mtb
        20 |
        Jul 28, 2026 @ 6:19pm
        Jul 28, 2026
        mtb
        15 |
        Jul 28, 2026 @ 4:40pm
        Jul 28, 2026
        mtb
        18 |
        Jul 28, 2026 @ 1:52pm
        Jul 28, 2026

        Videos

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        Trail Lists

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        Trail Products

        4.5 ★★★★★
        4 Ratings
        5 ★ 50%
        4 ★ 50%
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        6 Reviews & Comments


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        Frequently Asked Questions About Second Yellow Mule

        ▼ Where is Second Yellow Mule located?
        Second Yellow Mule is located in Madison Range, Big Sky, Montana, United States. It is part of the Madison Range trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 45.18129, -111.42288.
        ▼ How hard is Second Yellow Mule?
        Second Yellow Mule is rated as Blue difficulty. The physical rating is Hard. The average grade is 5.7%. The climb difficulty is rated Black Diamond.
        ▼ What is the elevation gain for Second Yellow Mule?
        Second Yellow Mule has 351 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 2,828 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 6,977 ft to 9,459 ft.
        ▼ Is Second Yellow Mule a point to point trail?
        Second Yellow Mule is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ How long is Second Yellow Mule?
        Second Yellow Mule is 8.2 miles long. The trail type is singletrack.
        ▼ Are dogs allowed on Second Yellow Mule?
        Yes, dogs are allowed on Second Yellow Mule. Please keep dogs on a leash where required and clean up after them.
        ▼ When is the best time of year to ride Second Yellow Mule?
        Based on activity log data, the most popular months to ride Second Yellow Mule are:
        • August (12 activities)
        • September (4 activities)
        • July (3 activities)
        Check the reports page for current trail conditions.
        ▼ How do I access Second Yellow Mule? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
        The closest parking and trailhead locations to Second Yellow Mule are: View all parking locations in the area.
        ▼ How long does it take to ride Second Yellow Mule?
        Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 1 hour 7 minutes to ride Second Yellow Mule. The trail is 8.2 miles long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
        ▼ How busy is Second Yellow Mule?
        Second Yellow Mule is a very popular trail. There have been 288 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 294 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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