What should I ride between Sun Valley and Whitefish?

**dfinn** · 07-02-2018, 03:12 PM

Got a wedding in Whitefish the weekend after next. I'm going to take the week to get up there. Planning to leave SLC and head towards SV for a couple of days but after that I'm not totally sure what to ride. Finding random stuff on trailforks is always interesting but I thought I'd ask on here if anyone has any suggestions.

Not really looking for xc stuff. I don't mind pedaling but prefer things on the rougher side. Flow and jumps are great too.

**dfinn** · 07-02-2018, 03:12 PM

and if anyone wants to meet up and show me some trails, I'm happy to drive and provide some beers.

**RootSkier** · 07-02-2018, 03:33 PM

Do you have a general idea of your route, or is that all dependent on where you decide to ride? I realize there aren't too many options other than 93, just checking.

I believe there is a Facebook group for Salmon-area riders, and there appear to be tons of trails off of 93 in that area.

There are also some good adventure rides around Lost Trail Pass, but they are better with a shuttle. They are probably hitchable, to an extent.

Are you going to be alone?

**dfinn** · 07-02-2018, 03:45 PM

Yeah, I'll be solo. My route is pretty open at the moment. Roughly I was planning on heading up through Salmon and then Hamilton and Lolo. I did notice a ton of trails in that area on trailforks but most of them don't have any kind of a description. From Missoula north I don't have a plan. Mostly it will be based around where I want to bike and fish.

**adrenalated** · 07-02-2018, 04:11 PM

If you like rocky this was a good ride:
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/702...ig-casino-loop
The climb is a bitch but the descent is great if you like rocky, loose, and raw.

**dfinn** · 07-02-2018, 04:20 PM

I've heard good things about that ride. Currently looking at doing the pioneer cabin loop in SV but that could be a good option too.

**stuckathuntermtn** · 07-02-2018, 04:25 PM

The riding near Hamilton is supposed to be great if you man up and pedal.
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/5856248
I don't know that that's a very technical climb. Been wanting to do that one.
There's a new downhill trail you can ride up to and do laps on in Marshal canyon. Kind of a pain in the ass to ride 3 miles up the dirt road around private property to do a short trail, but I guess you can lap it.
Whitefish has more what you're looking for, I think.

**evdog** · 07-02-2018, 04:30 PM

Originally Posted by adrenalated

If you like rocky this was a good ride:
https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/702...ig-casino-loop
The climb is a bitch but the descent is great if you like rocky, loose, and raw.

I'd second this one. Fun rocky descent.

Another good one is Big / Little Boulder. If solo there is a somewhat shitty 7 mile road pedal, but the singletrack climb is pretty nice and its a fun ripping descent back to the car. https://www.mtbproject.com/trail/700...e-boulder-loop

**dfinn** · 07-02-2018, 04:36 PM

Cool, thanks for the info. I'm somewhat familiar with the riding in Whitefish, I've spent some time there and will be meeting with some friends up there to show me around. Just looking for some info on things between here and there to check out.

**lifelinksplit** · 07-02-2018, 07:32 PM

Know it's a detour but camping/biking/fishing up Taylor fork (south of big sky) has more options than you can shake a stick at. Big fan of fishing early then hitting some lift served before a mountain to meadow(free shuttle) followed by margaritas at alberto's and then grub at riverhouse before heading back to camp(for more fishing/booze/weed). Also tons of riding near(in) Taylor fork as well but I shy away from solo riding there most of the time(thick with griz).

On second thought you should tell your buddy to get married in big sky and save you some drive time

**homemadesalsa** · 07-02-2018, 09:16 PM

Or the Lionhead. There's a full thread around in the Sprocket archives about it there, but you can do Sheep Creek out and back or Mile Creek out and back with no shuttle- both very very good.

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**RootSkier** · 07-02-2018, 09:44 PM

1. From Missoula north I'm not sure there is a good plan other than to go to the Flathead as quickly as possible and ride there.

2. The rides around Lost Trail are legit. I am not sure on the best non-shuttle option, but I believe people climb Porcupine Creek and then turn north and go down Fire Creek and Warm Springs proper (do the former if you look into it). As for descents, there is in August a shuttle festival that picks up on 93 at Spring Gulch Campground on the MT side and goes to the ski area. In that context, the Colter Creek > Warm Springs ride and the Porcpine Creek ride (all on Trailforks) are excellent. I bet you could hitch but this would be a full day, especially solo with one car. It is also extremely remote and there is not even a hint of cell coverage for most of it. I believe someone here last year got a river shuttle driver to help them out.

3. If you find yourself wanting to kill a few hours driving in Montana on 93, there are a few options for quick rides. Bear Creek and Camas Creek are both good. There are no descriptions I know but they are both out and backs to the wilderness boundary along rocky-ass creekside trails that are worthy. Both are signed from the highway with a little advance planning and only 15 minutes off the highway. Coyote Coulee might also fall into this category but is much mellower, probably not what you are looking for.

4. The best ride near 93 in the Missoula vicinity was Carlton Ridge and Mill Creek (see Trailforks) but they are currently closed because of a bad fire last summer.

**regct** · 07-02-2018, 10:10 PM

If you come to Big Sky I’ll show you some trails.

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**toast2266** · 07-02-2018, 11:03 PM

I don't have much to add, other than to say that the trails around lost trail pass are fun, but not that rowdy. They're technical in the sense that they're legit backcountry trails that don't see a ton of maintenance and they're not groomed for bikes, but they're not all that difficult in the steep / rocky sense of the word.

Also, if you have time for a detour to big sky, that means you also have time for a detour to fernie, or even nelson. My impression is that those places have what you're actually looking for.

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**hick** · 07-03-2018, 07:26 AM

Originally Posted by homemadesalsa

Or the Lionhead. There's a full thread around in the Sprocket archives about it there, but you can do Sheep Creek out and back or Mile Creek out and back with no shuttle- both very very good.

A fantastic variation is up the CDT from Targhee Pass and down Dry Creek or Targhee Creek back to the car. No shuttle needed and awesome ridge line riding over Lionhead.

**dfinn** · 07-03-2018, 09:37 AM

Originally Posted by lifelinksplit

Know it's a detour but camping/biking/fishing up Taylor fork (south of big sky) has more options than you can shake a stick at. Big fan of fishing early then hitting some lift served before a mountain to meadow(free shuttle) followed by margaritas at alberto's and then grub at riverhouse before heading back to camp(for more fishing/booze/weed). Also tons of riding near(in) Taylor fork as well but I shy away from solo riding there most of the time(thick with griz).

On second thought you should tell your buddy to get married in big sky and save you some drive time

Hmmm...Big Sky looks like it could be cool. I've never really been through there. Are the trails at the resort worth checking out? Is it ok to pedal up after hours?

Originally Posted by toast2266

Also, if you have time for a detour to big sky, that means you also have time for a detour to fernie, or even nelson. My impression is that those places have what you're actually looking for.

I've got a BC trip planned for later in the summer, I don't see myself making it up there on this trip. I did spend a week in Fernie a couple years ago and it's a fun town with no shortage of rough and steep trails.

**GoldMember** · 07-03-2018, 10:04 AM

"WHAT SHOULD I RIDE BETWEEN SUN VALLEY AND WHITEFISH?"

I was going to suggest the bus but, I see you're looking for something more. I have nothing to add.

**dfinn** · 07-03-2018, 10:39 AM

Originally Posted by RootSkier

A bunch of good info

Thanks RootSkier, if I head up 93 I'll definitely check out some of this!

**lifelinksplit** · 07-03-2018, 06:52 PM

Originally Posted by dfinn

Hmmm...Big Sky looks like it could be cool. I've never really been through there. Are the trails at the resort worth checking out? Is it ok to pedal up after hours?

I've got a BC trip planned for later in the summer, I don't see myself making it up there on this trip. I did spend a week in Fernie a couple years ago and it's a fun town with no shortage of rough and steep trails.

Definitely worth checking out. The resort has 2 way trails as well but honestly there's way better stuff than on the hill. They've been doing tons of work but I'll let others chime in as I haven't hit a lot of the new stuff. I'd say I would ride with ya and take you for a float but ironically im headed to Jackson for a wedding for my wife's friend that weekend.

**detrusor** · 07-04-2018, 11:25 AM

A short side jaunt to Helena is totally worth while.

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**skifishbum** · 07-04-2018, 12:58 PM

if you go to big sky and dont ski bike or fish with harry
youre doing it wrong

**camlax** · 07-05-2018, 08:22 AM

Some real good riding around here in Salmon but most of it trends towards XC. What we lack in jumps and flow we make up for with views. Check out the Pork Peddler/Bike shop for beer, pork, and the local guidebook. A few really good 10+ mile shuttle rides with little to no climbing but tough to do solo.
Riding between SV and Stanley is pretty damn good as well.

**dfinn** · 07-12-2018, 02:44 PM

Well, didn't really manage to hit any of the stuff suggested although I do appreciate the info as it may happen on another trip.

I rode a pretty big loop in SV that really isn't worth doing again. Then a quick lap on Fisher creek in Stanley which was really fun. Spent a few days fishing around the Missoula area. Didn't do too much biking around there because it seems like the fishing is better in that zone than the biking is.

Got some info from my friend who lives in Whitefish that there's a trail in Polson worth checking out on my way up. Wanted to add a little to this thread and say it's definitely worth riding. Don't wanna hot spot it too much because it seems under the radar but it's on TF and it's worth riding. Nothing mind blowing but a really fun 4 or 5 mile downhill with some good flow, fun jumps and some good use of natural rock terrain in spots. It seems like this is the only trail around for miles and miles, kind of strange that there isn't more of this or maybe there is and it's just not on TF.

**mtnjam** · 07-13-2018, 07:47 AM

^^^ Nice photo and nice ramp.

Which SV loop did you do that's not really worth doing again? Just curious...

**sethschmautz** · 07-13-2018, 09:53 AM

Are you still in the valley or did you head home? There's a great section of trail from Blacktail mountain down to (almost) lakeside and another from the top of the Blacktail to heron park in Kalispell. Both benefit from a shuttle. The latter is one of my favorite rides nearby, but it is a bit more xc the further you get from Blacktail. Some great banked flowy trails, though.

Let me know if you need/want more info, but I'm a bit more of an xc/trail rider.

Seth

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