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Riding Missoula, Montana The previous article printed by Mountain Zone — "Rattlesnake Out and Back, Montana" — describes the trail that follows the main corridor of Rattlesnake Creek. The main corridor is a nice ride if the rider wants only gentle climbs and descents, or is going fishing or hiking. It is also very rocky for long stretches and, since it is in the bottom of a rather steep-sided valley, isn't much for scenery. It's heavily used, as well, so it might lack in the experience department. Luckily, there are several outstanding alternative trails, all starting at the same trailhead, and each offers enough climbing and descending to accelerate your heart rate. The best trail has the longest climb but the descent is truly worth the effort. The trail is fairly easy to follow, and going downhill at any intersection leads back to the trailhead. In other words, it is very hard to get lost, and all the downhills are fun.
I would classify this ride as intermediate, due to the long climbs. The downhill can be very fast but it is easy to control. Due to a long south-facing climb, you'll need two to three hours for the trip. I recommend doing it during the morning or early afternoon. The Forest Service publishes a pamphlet with a map of the Sawmill-Curry trail system along with other local rides. One caution, leave the black bears and mountain lions alone and they will do the same to you. Take this advice to heart. Earlier this year a rider T-boned a mountain lion on this trail. (Both were surprised, but both lived.) I have seen black bears and elk on this trail, so pay attention.
The Overlook Trail
At the Rattlesnake trailhead ride up the paved road to the left, where you'll see a sign for Sawmill Gulch. Keep to the right at the next fork; the road turns to dirt. You will come to a Forest Service gate (1.2 miles from parking lot). Go around it and keep following the main groove. It is very difficult to get lost. Once riding, you'll hit a four-way intersection on a ridge (1.5 miles from gate). The first right climbs for ten yards, then descends back to the bottom of the climb you just did. This is not the way to go. The second right (a right hand branch of a Y) starts down immediately. This is the Lower Curry downhill. It is fast and fun and will take you back to the parking lot. The Overlook trail keeps climbing on the left branch of the Y. Again, stay in the main groove. After one mile, there is a trail taking off to the left up a steep pitch. There is a sign pointing up to the Stewart Peak trail. Going straight about 30 yards will take you to the Upper Curry downhill, and then back to the parking area. This is a good point to bag out if you are tired; the next stretch up is a grunt in any gear.
Take that steep left if you have some gas left. It is just a short little climb (50 yards) to a T-intersection on the ridge. Hang a right and get ready to grunt. From this point on, there is only one groove to the top. You know you have reached the top when you find yourself standing on a rocky point that overlooks the mountains (.7 mile from sign). If you look closely you can see the ski runs for Snow Bowl ski area across the valley.
Past the overlook, the trail goes down. It is some of the sweetest downhill I have ever ridden. It is tight singletrack through the trees with some short, fast, straight stretches thrown in for kicks. There are log drop-offs, hairpins and blind corners. There's also one ten-yard section of steep double switchback that many riders not familiar with the trail may want to walk. But for a beginner with good brakes, the rest of the trail is easy enough to ride. About a mile or so from the overlook, you will hook up with the Stewart Peak trail. The trail to the left climbs up to the wilderness boundary; go right and you'll continue the rush down to the parking lot (about 4 miles). Be careful of hikers and horses from this point on, especially on weekends. There some intersections down below but they all go to the parking lot. —Garth Flint, Living the Life with MountainZone.com
About the Author - Garth Flint is a mathematics instructor at the University of Montana in Missoula in the winter and works at Big Sky Cyclery in the summer. He has been riding in the Missoula area for 20 years and has missed a corner on almost every trail within 100 miles of Missoula.
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