Blacktail Ridge - Milwaukee Rd Loop

Dogs Leashed

E-Bikes Not Allowed

This is one of the best loops you can do in the Thompson Park Area, because it has a bit of everything: Interesting terrain, flowy singletrack, big hills, fun descents and a splashing to tech. The best way to ride this loop is counter clockwise, and this description starts at one of the main Thompson Park Trailheads.

Start by ascending to the Milwaukee Rd via Placer and Eagles Nest Trails. The Milwaukee Rd is the route of an old railway line where the trail is wide and has a very pleasant gradient. There are 2 tunnels that are safe to pass through mid route which can be dark so you may want to bring a light. There is also a large wooden train trestle that crosses over Roosevelt Canyon and this is one of the scenic highlights of the loop. It is possible to make the loop longer and harder by climbing up and looping the trails above Milwaukee Rd.

Milwaukee Rd takes you to Pipestone Pass, where there is a trailhead for the Continental Divide Trail (CDT) which heads both North and South from here. We will take the North trail, which involves heading down the hill slightly and crossing the road. The climb up the CDT is pleasant and flowy, even if you are going uphill! You'll reach a trail junction where you turn left onto the Beaver Ponds Trail.

The top part of the Beaver ponds trail winds around a marshy area and there are some tricky little technical sections to challenge intermediate riders. After this short section you'll turn right onto Blacktail Ridge trail which is perhaps the best riding of the loop, where the trail climbs and falls along a broad ridge with some mildly technical granite features.

Blacktail Ridge trail will come out on the Blacktail Loop where you turn left, and after a short fun section of switchbacks you turn left again onto Skeeboggan. Skeeboggan is the big descent of this loop and the main reason why this direction is recommended. It is a favorite downhill trail of many riders, as it is fast and flowy in some sections and tight and slightly technical in others. It will take you all the way down to Highway 2 where you can climb back up to your vehicle.