Divide NRT (Ax Park to Butcher Knife)

Trail Overview

This is about a 5-mile segment of the Divide NRT Single Track that goes between the Butcher Knife and Ax Park trails. This segment has steep slopes and is full of embedded cobble, making for a rocky ride. It's a narrow trail on top of a ridgeline with incredible views on the border of the Bitterroot National Forest and the Salmon National Forest. There's a steep downhill right away from the east end as you ride west. It has several switchbacks as you climb back up that are steep and full of loose rocks. The trail can be really narrow and faint at times. The trail also requires a lot of side-hilling, as it cuts across steep mountain slopes, often with moderate exposure as the trail is really narrow. The trail will likely be full of downed logs in the early season before they get cut, but always be prepared for new downfall, especially when the trail goes through an old burn area. The trail has lots of nice fun and flowy sections through grassy meadows atop the mountain around 8,000 feet. There's also potential for snow drifts at this elevation in the early riding season, late spring, and early summer.

Photos of Divide NRT (Ax Park to Butcher Knife)

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Difficulty

This is an intermediate trail due to really narrow side-hill sections with moderate exposure, lots of embedded rock, and several moderate switchbacks that are steep and loose, but doesn't have any notable specific obstacles.

Technical Rating