Fish Creek Downhill

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Butte, Montana, USA

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Route Overview

John in Butte

Sweet Gravel and MTB Rides around Montana (and Mexico!)

10 mi.

1,770 ft.

The Fish Creek Downhill is a thrilling 10-mile loop suitable for an after work ride or a weekend spin. This is the local ride of choice if you want to bomb a fun downhill, but also want to get in a decent workout. The ride is basically 7 miles up, 3 miles down.

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Route Details

**Fish Creek Downhill** is a thrilling 10-mile loop suitable for an after work ride or a weekend spin. This is the local ride of choice if you want to bomb a fun downhill, but also want to get in a decent workout. The ride is basically 7 miles up, 3 miles down.

## Route

The ride starts and finishes less than 15 miles south of Butte on @poi[Fish Creek Road](72628851) just off Highway 2. A few parking options are available less than 1/4 mile off the highway. The climbing begins by riding @slice[2.5 miles of Highway 2](d,311.32,4074.63) up to the @poi[Continental Divide trailhead](72628849) at Pipestone Pass. The @poi[abandoned railroad grade](72628848) parallel to the highway was the traditional route to the pass, but the land is private property and "no trespassing" signs were installed in summer 2022. The railroad grade also requires scrambling or riding around the tunnel entrance near the summit.

At Pipestone Pass, join the @slice[Continental Divide Trail](d,4471.3,11098.51) heading south toward the Highland Mountains. The trail is well maintained singletrack that periodically opens up for views of the neighboring peaks and valleys. The trail crosses a couple of dirt roads, so be sure to look for CDT markers and stay on the singletrack to the top.

Once you reach the high point, the @slice[route goes off-trail](d,11093.71,11153.85) to the left for several yards to connect to the start of the Fish Creek downhill. There is a @slice[rough cattle trail](d,11189.11,11560.37) that brings you to the @poi[downhill entrance](72628856) which is in the trees and somewhat hidden from view.

At the @slice[downhill section](d,11584.22,15436.35) the fun really begins. This stretch alternates between flowy trail and rough rock gardens, and you'll find a few well placed boulders for wheelie drops. There are a couple of creek crossings, one boggy area, and gates that sometimes cross the road (but are typically marked with flagging if closed). Near the bottom of the route there is a @slice[secret cattle trail](d,15894.36,16516.2) that veers left for one last piece of singletrack that brings you back to your vehicle.

## Information

The downhill section is the highlight of this ride and a full suspension bike is ideal, but I usually ride a hardtail and watch my enduro buddies disappear from sight on the downhill. There is one boggy section that can be wet in spring, but otherwise the trail is rideable once the snow disappears, which could be June in the high country and shaded areas. The soil is coarse granitic sand that drains especially well but is also highly erosive. Most area trails can be ridden immediately following rain, but after significant storms you may encounter deadfall or gully formation. The downhill section of trail is not a priority for maintenance, but a few dedicated locals try to keep it clear of deadfall.

## The Area

Fish Creek Downhill is only a small part of the extensive trail network south and east of Butte. Between the Highland Mountains, Thompson Park, Pipestone, and the Continental Divide Trail, riders could enjoy over 100 miles of excellent single track. A slightly outdated map of the Thompson Park area is available [here](https://www.co.silverbow.mt.us/DocumentCenter/View/1049/Map-Thompson-Park-Trails) if you desire to explore more of the area.

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Fish Creek Downhill

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