+ 9
Leverich Canyon Loop
Mountain Biking Trail
Hard
4.81 mi
1,283 ft
One of the only bike-only, downhill-only trails in Bozeman.
Leverich Canyon is home to one of the only bike-only, one-way, downhill-only trails in the Gallatin range. As such, it's an ultra-popular mountain bike ride, which is evidenced by the braking bumps that permeate the descent.
The ride begins by climbing a steep but smooth singletrack trail up the mountainside. First, you'll pedal a short stem of singletrack before reaching the loop portion of the ride. This section of the ride is also open to hikers, so please be courteous as you pass. The smooth singletrack can feel very steep in places, but most riders will still be able to manage the climb without hiking. Whether you climb it easily, can barely hold on, or resort to hiking will be a result of your fitness level.
Once on top of the ridge, the trail continues to undulate up and down, following the ridgeline with a few fast descents and steep climbs. And then, finally, it's time to truly descend!
The main descent is the noted bike-only, downhill-only trail. This fast, flowy romp features rollers, berms in most of the corners, and the occasional kicker for optional airtime. The trail tread is mostly smooth, with braking bumps and a few steep sections posing the only potential challenges. Thanks to the fast flow and smooth trail tread, everybody from intermediate riders on up will have a blast railing down this mountainside!
Some sources describe Leverich Canyon as a "modern flow trail," but in 2021, that is no longer the case. Leverich Canyon provides an old-school hand-built flow trail vibe that is an incredible amount of fun to ride but is a far cry from the modern machine-built flow trails of today. You'll have to watch out for small berms that aren't quite tall enough, a few awkward twists and turns along the exposed hillside, and sections where the mountain just seems to fall away. It all adds to the fun, making for an absolute blast of a mountain bike ride.
The final section of the descent follows the stem that accesses the loop, but remember: this is now a shared-use trail again. It's a fast, steep section, and many riders have a hard time reigning it in. Yet you should try to slow down for both hikers and uphill riders that you're likely to encounter.
**Note:**
The Bozeman area is renowned as prime grizzly bear country. Signs at every trailhead warn that bears are highly active in the area. Mountain biking is considered a high-risk activity in grizzly bear country due to the quiet speed of a bicycle and how quickly you can accidentally sneak up on a bear when rounding a blind turn. To mitigate this risk, make plenty of noise while riding, try to ride with a group of people, and consider attaching a bear bell to your handlebars. Also, make certain that you carry bear spray with you every time you ride, in case you do get into an encounter with a grizzly. Written by Greg Heil
Leverich Canyon is home to one of the only bike-only, one-way, downhill-only trails in the Gallatin range. As such, it's an ultra-popular mountain bike ride, which is evidenced by the braking bumps that permeate the descent.
The ride begins by climbing a steep but smooth singletrack trail up the mountainside. First, you'll pedal a short stem of singletrack before reaching the loop portion of the ride. This section of the ride is also open to hikers, so please be courteous as you pass. The smooth singletrack can feel very steep in places, but most riders will still be able to manage the climb without hiking. Whether you climb it easily, can barely hold on, or resort to hiking will be a result of your fitness level.
Once on top of the ridge, the trail continues to undulate up and down, following the ridgeline with a few fast descents and steep climbs. And then, finally, it's time to truly descend!
The main descent is the noted bike-only, downhill-only trail. This fast, flowy romp features rollers, berms in most of the corners, and the occasional kicker for optional airtime. The trail tread is mostly smooth, with braking bumps and a few steep sections posing the only potential challenges. Thanks to the fast flow and smooth trail tread, everybody from intermediate riders on up will have a blast railing down this mountainside!
Some sources describe Leverich Canyon as a "modern flow trail," but in 2021, that is no longer the case. Leverich Canyon provides an old-school hand-built flow trail vibe that is an incredible amount of fun to ride but is a far cry from the modern machine-built flow trails of today. You'll have to watch out for small berms that aren't quite tall enough, a few awkward twists and turns along the exposed hillside, and sections where the mountain just seems to fall away. It all adds to the fun, making for an absolute blast of a mountain bike ride.
The final section of the descent follows the stem that accesses the loop, but remember: this is now a shared-use trail again. It's a fast, steep section, and many riders have a hard time reigning it in. Yet you should try to slow down for both hikers and uphill riders that you're likely to encounter.
**Note:**
The Bozeman area is renowned as prime grizzly bear country. Signs at every trailhead warn that bears are highly active in the area. Mountain biking is considered a high-risk activity in grizzly bear country due to the quiet speed of a bicycle and how quickly you can accidentally sneak up on a bear when rounding a blind turn. To mitigate this risk, make plenty of noise while riding, try to ride with a group of people, and consider attaching a bear bell to your handlebars. Also, make certain that you carry bear spray with you every time you ride, in case you do get into an encounter with a grizzly. Written by Greg Heil
Created By
Strava Routes
Route and Elevation
Segments
| Name | Distance | Elev. Diff. | Avg. Grade |
|---|---|---|---|
| Leverich Lap - Lot to Top to Lot | 5.13 mi | -1,142 ft | -0.0% |
| Leverich Initial Switchbacks | 1.32 mi | 696 ft | 9.9% |
| Sourdough Canyon Rd Climb | 0.51 mi | 354 ft | 12.6% |
| Leverich Trail head to upper crosscut | 3.14 mi | 1,161 ft | 7.0% |
| Leverich Trailhead to Mineshaft | 1.78 mi | 715 ft | 6.6% |
| leverich climb to first junction | 2.49 mi | 1,040 ft | 7.9% |
| Leverich Uphill Trail Climb | 2.42 mi | 919 ft | 7.2% |
| Leverich Lap | 4.62 mi | -1,050 ft | -0.0% |
| Leverich Drag Race | 0.28 mi | -98 ft | -6.0% |
| Fs 3158 Climb | 0.90 mi | 446 ft | 9.2% |
| Leverich Canyon Climb | 0.72 mi | 397 ft | 10.4% |
| Leverich DH | 1.61 mi | -965 ft | -11.2% |
| Leverich All DH | 2.01 mi | -1,083 ft | -10.2% |
| Upper Leverich | 0.54 mi | -364 ft | -12.6% |
| True Leverich DH - 2013 | 1.83 mi | -1,053 ft | -10.8% |
| Lower Leverich | 1.14 mi | -676 ft | -11.0% |
| I've been trying to contact you about your car's extended warranty | 1.01 mi | -505 ft | -9.4% |