Crane Mtn Rd - Beardance - Phillips - Lower Crane loop

Dogs Off-leash

E-Bikes Allowed

Features Downhill · Drops/Jumps · Flow · Technical

One of the most mellow fire road climbs leads to one of the most fun extended downhill trails in the valley and the trails to complete the loop just keep adding to the fun.

Park only 1/4 mile after turning onto Mission Divide Rd from Crane Mountain Rd.

Climb about 9 miles on one of the most mellow fire road climbs in the valley. When you reach the Beardance Trail, get ready for a joyful and uninterrupted 6-7 mile stretch of bomber downhill full of just enough tech to keep you on your toes. Before you reach Hwy 35 and the end of Beardance, turn right on the Phillips Trail and climb to earn more downhill to extend this great loop

The Phillips Trail will spill you back onto Mission Divide Rd but an immediate left onto the Dale Jorgenson Connector Trail puts you into the bottom of Crane Mountain and all the tech trails that exist in this section. There are so many options and trails to get you back to your car so if you feel like exploring, please go for it. In this recommended route, I simply picked some of my favorites.


Rather than stay right on the Dale Jorgenson Connector all the way to the Estes Lake parking area, I turned left and climbed what is a very steep pitch up to the Smokejumper Trail which has some gnarly technical rock features. Smokejumper reconnects back into the Dale Jorgenson trail and from there, take the Estes Lake Trail to the outer edge of the lower Crane Tech trails area and jump on newly renovated Enchanted Forest Trail.

The Flathead Area Mountain Bike Association has done incredible work to this great trail so enjoy. It will spill you onto the Access Trail which splits the lower tech trails and is a popular access to loop just these trails for hours in a day. Take a left and go all the way to the end noticing all the trail options taking off to your right, and finish with Cedar Run which will take you back to your car and finish what is promised to be an incredible loop on your mountain bike!