Caverns Grand Tour

Dogs Unknown

E-Bikes Not Allowed

Features Views

If you only do one loop here at Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park, this is the one to do if you are up for it. The trails here are steep, narrow and rocky with tight switchbacks. This loop will test your lungs and legs on the ascent, and your wits and boldness on the descent. The trails are all incredibly scenic and the tree cover overall light, meaning that you'll spend more time with great views than without. The trail can be ridden in either direction, however the recommended direction is clockwise for an easier ascent and more fun descent.

Lewis and Clark Caverns State Park and Campground is open all year round. Water is available May 1 to September 30. The Park is south facing, and the trails often remain snow free later in the fall, and dry out faster in the Spring compared to other riding areas.
The Park is located on Montana Hwy 2, 15 miles east of Whitehall or 19 miles west of Three Forks.

The route starts at the Main Visitor Center at the bottom of Eastside Trail, but could easily be started from anywhere at the southern end of the park. Head north up the start of Eastside on an easy warmup grade until a junction where the trail turns a sharp right, and our route turns left and crosses over the Park Road. The trail on the other side of the road will connect you through to Gave Gulch, and has a steep pumpy start and some tricky and technical rock features.

Once you connect on to Cave Gulch Trail, you'll ascend for about a mile up to a small saddle to the junction with Middle View Trail. Lower Cave Gulch will be one of your least technical sections of trail, but it has some of the steeper grades to it, especially approaching the saddle.

At the junction you turn right on to Middle View Trail where you'll get some of your best views and encounter the tightest switchbacks in the park. If you can stay on your bike around every corner you are doing very well. About 2/3 of the way up, the trail reaches a high point where there is a small saddle and viewpoint called the Dolomite Point Overlook. From there the trail mostly descends down to a junction with Eastside Trail where you turn right.

Eastside trail will take you all the way back to your starting point. It starts with a mile long descent down to a tunnel under the park road. This section is overall easy, but has a couple of technical features. After the tunnel you have 300 ft elevation of rocky climbing with some more tight switchbacks. At the top of the climb you'll get some nice views followed by a long and fun downhill. This section is one of the steeper and more technical sections in the park and is a real treat.