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1,781 ft
Distance
9 ft
Climb
-132 ft
Descent
00:03:04
Avg time
-123 ft
Altitude change
936 ft
Altitude min
1,061 ft
Altitude max
1,061 ft
Altitude start
938 ft
Altitude end
-6.9%
Grade
-33.4%
Grade max
11.3%
Grade min
157 ft
Distance climb
1,276 ft
Distance down
282 ft
Distance flat
00:03:04
Avg time
Switchbacks Details
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Activities
- Mountain Bike
- E-Bike
- Hike
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Riding AreaBlackhawk Ski Club
Middleton, Wisconsin -
Difficulty Rating
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Voted DifficultyBlack Diamond (1 vote)
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Local Popularity60 in Mountain Biking
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Global Ranking#93745 in Mountain Biking
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Hiking SAC ScaleT1 Hiking
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Trail TypeSingletrack
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Bike TypeAM, XC
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DirectionBoth Directions[+]
- Both Directions for E-Biking
- Both Directions for Hiking
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Climb DifficultyBlue
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Physical RatingModerate
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Trail VisibilityAlways easy to follow
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eBike AllowedYes up to Class 1
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TTFs on TrailBerm
With the help of professional trail builder Jeremy Witek and his crew, the Switchbacks have been transformed from a grueling, near impossible, zig-zag up one of the steepest inclines at Blackhawk, into a fast, fun, and flowy ride Currently there are no signs specifying a required direction so this trail can be ridden down or uphill.
Access Info
Splits off near the start of Howling Wolf and connects to the Creek Trail at the bottom of Hill 6
Local Trail Association
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Please consider joining or donating to the local trail association to supportDonate to earn trail karma!
trail development & maintenance.
Traditionally Indigenous Territory
Recent Activity on Trail
Past Week
- 1 rides
- 2 miles average
6 Months
- 13 rides
- 11 miles avg distance
All
- 259 rides
- Last: Jun 27, 2026
| c1 | c2 | c3 | c4 |
|---|---|---|---|
January | February | March | April |
May | June | July | August |
September | October | November | December |
Switchbacks Trail Reports
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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 riders are riding a trail in its intended direction.
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- > 90%
- > 80%
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- < 50%
- bi-directional trail
- no data
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- < 1 week
- < 2 weeks
- < 1 month
- < 6 months
- > 6 months
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The intended direction a trail should be ridden.
- Downhill Only
- Downhill Primary
- Both Directions
- Uphill Primary
- Uphill Only
- One Direction
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Directions to switchbacks-220114 trailhead
(43.084940, -89.567660)
Photos
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Nearby Trails
- Howling Wolff 177 ft
- Drop Zone 236 ft
- Deer Run 282 ft
- West Connector 282 ft
- Leonards Way 312 ft
- By tbtel
Alpine & contributors - #220114 - 1,093 views
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Frequently Asked Questions About Switchbacks
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Where is Switchbacks located?
Switchbacks is located in Blackhawk Ski Club, Middleton, Wisconsin, United States. It is part of the Blackhawk Ski Club trail network. The trailhead is located at coordinates 43.08494, -89.56766.
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How hard is Switchbacks?
Switchbacks is rated as Black Diamond difficulty. The physical rating is Moderate. The average grade is 6.9%. The climb difficulty is rated Blue.
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What is the elevation gain for Switchbacks?
Switchbacks has 9 ft of elevation gain. The trail has 132 ft of elevation descent. The elevation ranges from 936 ft to 1,061 ft.
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Is Switchbacks a point to point trail?
Switchbacks is not a point to point trail. The direction is Both Directions. The trail type is singletrack.
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