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Trail Description:
The Rattlesnake Recreation Area is a part of Lolo National Forest. The area is well mapped out with the trails well-maintained. There are many trails to ride, branching off a fire road that follows the creek. You can go out for a quick three mile jaunt or spend all day hitting the different trails. Every type of terrain can be encountered...long steep climbs, technical ascents, steep technical descents, rolling singletrack, pine forest ridge rides...If you are ever near Missoula, head out to some of the best riding around!
You can bring the whole family and everyone can be happy. Along the main trail, there are a good bit of hiker and a few equestrians..but once you hit some of the branch of trails, you hardly ever encounter anyone...and I've never had any problems with anyone, hiker or equestrian!
How to get there:
It can be reached by driving about 3 miles from downtown Missoula. Almost all of the shops in town have maps of the area, along with a few other rides within 5 miles of town.
| Posted by: Mountain Bike Girl on 4/17/2010 |
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Live near Rattlesnake Ride it often > Great scenery really beautyful. Crowds are only the first three miles in. (mostly weekends) Most Hikers and joggers dont go past last bathrooms at bottom of first hill.
Moreover the majority of other mountain bikers turn around after Franklin.(Here is a secret) The best terrain is beyond to the wilderness boundry. There is about a 3/4 mi steep climb along a knife edge but then goes downhill > Trail becomes Very secluded and Isolated from here on. I rarely even see anyone else. Also this portion is not as rocky. The trail stops at the wilderness boundry 15 mi in. (Just after a big bridge) Take your camera. Lots of photo oppertunitys
Do not go past Franklin without a day pack or Camel Bak.
It is VERY Remote !
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| Posted by: Stew on 12/4/2004 |
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Hey Folks,
My name is Stewart. I want to tell you a little bit about the Rattlesnake Canyon. This site refers to it as the Rattlesnake Rec. Area. Many Websites will surely refer to it differently. To us natives, it is the "Rattlesnake". I was born in Missoula, and have hiked the Rattlesnake many, many times. I am 31 years old, and joined the U.S. Army February 1997, and have been serving on active duty ever since. I have served from the mountains of Wightman NCO Academy Korea, to the plains of Yakima Washinton, to every aspect of Germany, and currently serve at NORAD USNORTHCOM, Colorado Springs, CO. Pretty good hiking HUH! The Rattlesnake Canyon is absolutley one of the best places I have ever hiked in my life. When I was Stationed at Fort Lewis Washington, I used to hike alot in Ranier National Park. As beautiful as it was, it still could not match the utter magnificance of the wilderness only a few miles from my mothers home in Missoula. If 99 out of 100 people did not agree that
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| Posted by: jappy on 6/6/2004 |
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The continuity and speed of the singletrack is some of the best I have experienced. Once you get to know the area, you can find loops all the way to Marshall Mountain and back.
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| Posted by: Shaftman on 9/28/2003 |
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The climb was really long and difficult (on my lungs) but it was well worth it once we reached the downhill. The downhill was fast in some places and technical in others (nice mix)! Before the downhill there is also a real nice lookout point.
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| Posted by: jahman on 6/29/2003 |
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"head out to some of the best riding around," huh? kind of a joke. turn your car around and go back to mis=nnesota or wisconsin or wherever and stay out of the west. you people ruin it for those who live the lifestyle
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| Posted by: Mister X on 8/18/2001 |
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This is NOT the place to go if you like to get away from the crowd, especially on weekends. Lots of trail damage in the early season and piles of dung all season thanks to our lazy, thoughtless hick equestrian comrades. The main corridor to Franklin Bridge is a boring, punishing rockgarden, but once there the bridge is a really cool area to relax...The ratings vary. If you like a challenge, the Stuart Peak ride is the best thing in this area. Sawmill and Curry are pretty good too.
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