more stats
8.2 miles
Distance
351 ft
Climb
-2,828 ft
Descent
01:12:23
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
01:12:23
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 [+]
    • 5 in Trail Running
    • 5 in Hiking
    • 5 in Horseback
  • Global Ranking
    #34236 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • #215227 in Trail Running
    • #206467 in Hiking
    • #3445 in Horseback
  • State Ranking
    #202 in Mountain Biking · Montana [+]
    • #2,527 in Trail Running
    • #2,549 in Hiking
    • #40 in Horseback
  • 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.

Tags
FlowyRock gardens

Trail Supporters

Local Trail Association

Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 0 rides
  •  
6 Months
  • 29 rides
  • 36 miles avg distance
All
  • 90 rides
  • Last: Sep 11, 2026
c1c2c3c4
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Status:
on Oct 8, 2026
Ideal
Avg: 4.21 (4 votes)
Your vote: 0

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

      Photos

      11 more »
      mtb
      49 |
      Jul 28, 2026 @ 6:19pm
      Jul 28, 2026
      mtb
      42 |
      Jul 28, 2026 @ 6:19pm
      Jul 28, 2026
      mtb
      39 |
      Jul 28, 2026 @ 4:40pm
      Jul 28, 2026
      mtb
      34 |
      Jul 28, 2026 @ 1:52pm
      Jul 28, 2026
      Meadow 1Rocky 1Wooden features 1Bridges 1

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      Trail Lists

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      Trail Products

      4.5 ★★★★★
      4 Ratings
      5 ★ 50%
      4 ★ 50%
      3 ★
      2 ★
      1 ★

      6 Reviews & Comments

      Carruthers
      Climbed up this today, it is in great condition. Overall it’s a pretty good climb and much of it is on old road/logging grades . Seems like it would be a bit dull as a descent, but works great for accessing Buck Ridge
      loamwhisperer420 loamwhisperer420
      When you see mud on a trail, and riding it would create a tire rut, wouldn't you stop and walk around? Well, most people riding second yellow mule seem oblivious. There's at least 20 tracks just smashing through extended mud sections. Either they're too lazy to slow down, too stupid, or just a*sholes.
      It's better as an uphill until it dries out (another week), plus First is riding downhill really great right now.

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      Nearby Trails

      Madison Range

      • By evasiveTF Pro MBG & contributors
      • #64549 - 4,884 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ 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 (43 activities)
      • July (17 activities)
      • September (5 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 12 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 335 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 342 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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