Level: Intermediate
Length: 6 mi (9.7 km)
Surface: Singletrack
Configuration: Out & Back
Elevation: +820/ -816 ft
Total: 13 riders
Mountain Biking Garnett Mountain
#57 of 265 mountain bike trails in Montana
This is a great singletrack but it is merciless. Just don't make it your first ride of the year. No problems following this trail, just follow the most obvious route. Though not overly technical, the grade doesn't level out at all. ~ 1/2 mile from the forest service cabin on top you come out onto a road which you follow to the left. Great downhill coming down the same route.
Try it as a loop; from parking area follow road to Rat Lake access road and follow it to the right. Go past Rat Lake and follow the road to the forest service cabin. This is a driveable road the whole way and adds ~7 miles to the ride.
First added by harryhoodlum on Oct 26, 2010. Last updated Apr 28, 2020. → add an update
Before you go
- Drinking water: unknown
- Lift service: unknown
- Night riding: unknown
- Pump track: unknown
- Restrooms: unknown
- Fat bike grooming: unknown
- E-bikes allowed: unknown
- Fee required: unknown
This trail information is user-generated. Help improve this information by suggesting a correction.
From Big Sky drive north on Hwy 191 ~ 18 miles to Storm Castle access. 1 mile from hwy are two trailheads. On the left is Storm Castle trail, on the right across the creek is Garnett Mtn. trail. I've ridden Garnett but some ride Storm Castle also.
I recommend going up the single track and doing an out and back. Killer climb, great workout, and well groomed (for the most part). The double track up the back tends to be looser gravelly, etc.
Watch for exposed gravel sections (in the sun with huge scree dropoffs). Slow down when you see these as they are very loose and can end in disaster. Most of the trail is shaded by trees and is very smooth packed soil with the occasional rocky, rooted section. Near the top there is a challenging exposed meadow climb that starts the more exposed top section of the trail. When you get to the intersection with the rat lake trail I'd recommend heading to the top for 360 views from the peak. Just don't miss the intersection on the way back and go bombing towards rat lake.
| Thank8.5 (ish) miles up on fire road that is pretty relentless. One section towards the top that is super sandy and steep that I couldn't clean. The down is short but sweet. Watch out for the tight switchbacks on the way down!
| Thank