more stats
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

  • Activities
    • Mountain Bike
    • E-Bike
    • Hike
    • Trail Running
  • Riding Area
    Blackhawk Ski Club
    Middleton, Wisconsin
  • Difficulty Rating
    Black Diamond Rate
  • Voted Difficulty
    Black Diamond (1 vote)
  • Local Popularity
    55 in Mountain Biking [+]
    • 80 in E-Biking
    • 65 in Trail Running
    • 60 in Hiking
  • Global Ranking
    #93745 in Mountain Biking
  • Hiking SAC Scale
    T1 Hiking
  • Trail Type
    Singletrack
  • Bike Type
    AM, XC
  • Direction
    Both Directions[+]
    • Both Directions for E-Biking
    • Both Directions for Hiking
  • Climb Difficulty
    Blue
  • Physical Rating
    Moderate
  • Trail Visibility
    Always easy to follow
  • eBike Allowed
    Yes up to Class 1
  • TTFs on Trail
    Berm

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
Traditionally Indigenous Territory

Recent Activity on Trail

Past Week
  • 1 rides
  • 12 miles average
6 Months
  • 32 rides
  • 10 miles avg distance
All
  • 278 rides
  • Last: Sep 24, 2026
update trails status or condition

Switchbacks Trail Reports

statusdatedescription
Jun 15, 2023 @ 10:21am
Jun 15, 2023
Feb 4, 2023 @ 10:18am
Feb 4, 2023
Nov 30, 2022 @ 1:16am
Nov 30, 2022
Aug 10, 2022 @ 7:08am
Aug 10, 2022
 Tree down across trail
Jul 19, 2022 @ 1:06pm
Jul 19, 2022
more »
Status:
on Jun 15, 2023
Very Dry
Avg: 3.89 (4 votes)
Your vote: 0

view (2,146)
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      Directions to switchbacks-220114 trailhead (43.084940, -89.567660)
      View on Discover Map

      Photos

      8 more »
      mtb
      52 |
      Sep 3, 2025 @ 9:10pm
      Sep 3, 2025
      mtb
      57 |
      Sep 3, 2025 @ 9:10pm
      Sep 3, 2025
      mtb
      73 |
      Sep 3, 2025 @ 9:09pm
      Sep 3, 2025
      mtb
      50 |
      Sep 3, 2025 @ 9:09pm
      Sep 3, 2025

      Videos

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

      Links

      3.8 ★★★★★
      4 Ratings
      5 ★ 25%
      4 ★ 25%
      3 ★ 50%
      2 ★
      1 ★

      1 Review & Comments


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      Nearby Trails

      Blackhawk Ski Club

      • By tbtelTF Pro Alpine & contributors
      • #220114 - 1,213 views

      Frequently Asked Questions

      ▼ 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.
      ▼ 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.
      ▼ 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.
      ▼ 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.
      ▼ How long is Switchbacks?
      Switchbacks is 1,781 ft long. The trail type is singletrack.
      ▼ Are dogs allowed on Switchbacks?
      There is no information about dogs being allowed on Switchbacks. Check with local trail managers or the trail page for the latest access rules.
      ▼ How do I access Switchbacks? Where is the closest parking trailhead?
      The closest parking and trailhead locations to Switchbacks are: View all parking locations in the area.
      ▼ How long does it take to ride Switchbacks?
      Based on recorded activities, it takes an average of 3 minutes to ride Switchbacks. The trail is 1,781 ft long. Actual times will vary based on fitness level, conditions, and pace. View recent activity logs for more details.
      ▼ How busy is Switchbacks?
      Switchbacks is a moderately popular trail. There have been 1,616 recorded activities on this trail. The trail has received 2,146 check-ins. View recent activity on this trail.

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