Timber Mountain - Buck Mountain Trail Loop

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Unknown

A great ride to explore a rarely visited section of the cabinet mountains.

The trail starts near Boulder Meadows at the Timber Mountain trailhead and follows the Timber Mountain Trail #51 all the way to Divide Lake. 3/4 of the trail to Divide Lake is rideable with a good bit of steep pushing to get your heart rate going.

At present, the trailhead was not marked with any trail names or numbers but there is a board with FS info. It is the last trailhead before Boulder Meadows, which has a large horse area at it. The trail starts in the woods then joins the very old Boulder Creek roadbed but it is all singletrack and it's hard to tell that it used to be a road. Many maps still show it as a road though.

A little ways from the trailhead, you'll see the trail you'll come out on your left with signage to Buck Mountain Trail #176 via #515. This is the old Smythe Creek Trail #515. Continue past this for about 3.5 miles and take the left fork that cranks up the hillside for many miles. Another left midway and the trail finally comes out at Divide Lake. Enjoy the view then take the left at the T and head out the ridge towards Buck Mountain and Iron Mountain on Trail #176.

Follow the awesome ridge and side hill trail that was recently improved. Follow this up and around a few summits then keep your eyes out for a trail going straight down on your left. It is a little ways after a small mud lake and marked with a very old sign that says "water" and an arrow down the hill. This is trail 155/515 and what you want to get you down to Timber Mountain Trail #51 and your car. One could continue out along the ridge for miles and other trails. Looks fun!

Smythe Creek Trail #155 descends fast with loose, steep goodness. At the bottom, you'll T into the Timber Mountain Trail #51 and the signage you took note of near the beginning. Take a right and head back to the car. Bring a map and the MTB Project mobile app. It helps and shows all the options available.