Red Cub

Trail Overview

The Red Cub Trail (also called Cub Cr. - Red Canyon Trail) is a longer single track through the Gallatin National Forest south of Big Sky, Montana. The southeast end starts at the Red Canyon Trailhead off FS Road 681, with a small parking area and a couple of dispersed camping sites. It starts off fast and flowy through the pine trees and grassy meadows. You might find a log across the trail, but this is a popular riding area and it's likely that any downed logs will get cut. There are small roots and rocks, and some tight switchbacks that are moderate difficulty. They are tight but smooth and gradual. It goes through a really scenic section with cool towering rock outcroppings and giant boulders lining the trail while paralleling the Red Canyon Creek. It goes through several more switchbacks to climb up from the creek to the mountain top, and it side-hills with moderate exposure between the switchbacks. The switchbacks get tighter as you go up, and you start to get really epic views as you get above 9,000 feet. The trail goes along the top of the mountain, crossing intersections with Skyline ATV, the Cabin Creek Cabin spur, and the Cabin Creek singletrack. The last 2.5 miles go west to connect to Kirkwood. The west segment is pretty easy, but narrow, going through open grassy meadows and small stream crossings that are rutted and muddy. There are more roots and embedded rock as it goes into the pine trees again, before ending at the Kirkwood trail. This trail is open 7/16 - 10/14 to motorized use.

Photos of Red Cub

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Difficulty

There are many easy segments throughout this 9-mile-long single track that are fast and flowy, but also lots of rockier sections that have embedded rocks and roots on steep climbs. There are tight switchbacks and side-hilling that also require some experience.

Technical Rating