Derek found us a route to incorporate lots of singletrack riding and the Milwaukee Rail Trail here in Butte. Our ride was a loop of 17 miles with 2347′ of climbing.
We started from the Lower Eagles Nest Trailhead in Thompson Park and climbed up Placer Trail and then Grading Camp Trail. The trail is smooth singletrack but it’s steep in places and rough to start climbing right out of the gate. The next part of the ride was swoopy through the forest on top and fast as we descended down to the rail trail.
The Chicago, Milwaukee and St. Paul Railroad, better known as the Milwaukee Road, was completed here in 1909. When this section of the line, part of a 440-mile stretch connecting Montana and Idaho, was electrified just a few years later it pioneered the large-scale use of electricity for railroading. Considered a modern marvel, the railroad was visited by Thomas Edison, owner of General Electric—the manufacturer of the electric locomotives—who remarked on its smooth powerful operation.
Our ride along the trail trail featured two tunnels and a trestle. The tunnels are just long enough that riding through them is a bit unsettling because it’s nearly pitch black in the middle. The surface is gravel so just keep up your speed. The first tunnel is 550 feet long, while the other is 1,100 feet long. Next up was the trestle. The impressive trestle is the highlight of the trail, spanning 600 feet and rising about 130 feet off the ground.
We climbed up a steep little trail to connect to the CDT. We rode down this section of CDT on a previous day and this time we rode up it. It’s a pleasant climb with areas of reprieve and great views. After climbing back up onto Black Trail Ridge, this time we turned left and went down Skeeboggon Trail. The upper part is new and a bit rough but that doesn’t last long and then it’s a screaming descent. Warning, there are some rough water bar dips cut into the trail and if you aren’t paying attention they could launch you. I really liked this trail and it dumped us off across the highway from where we started. Loop complete.
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