Review Date
May 12, 2007

Overall Rating
 4 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 4 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: rayray74 ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
The name of this trail should actually be changed to the south shore trail. You can connect to the North Shore on certain weekends in the summer when they open up Cochrane Dam. Anyway the trail starts off with a fun downhill all the way to whitmore ravine, then climbs up to the "roller Coaster". After the roller coaster the trail merges with double track. There is an un-official trail (hopefully soon to be official) to the left that has been nicknamed "mayhem". This is one of the more challenging sections of trail in the area. The trail connects back to the double track and continues to follow the river with a combination of single and double track. I've never ridden to the end, but I understand you can ride all the way to Box Elder Creek.

Recommended Route:
Start at rainbow dam overlook parking lot and follow the trail.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
North Shore trail

Review Date
March 15, 2007

Overall Rating
 5 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 5 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a year

Reviewed by: boisebomber ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
It is called North Shore Trail as part of Rivers Edge Trail System.

take 87 N. over the bridge and follow the signs.

First there is the starting point. you can go to the TH at Rainbow Dam and ride 5 miles on gravel to the S-T trail head at Ryan Dam. Or you can drive out to Ryan Dam/Maroney Dam TH . the S-T starts here and runs between the 2 dams. the S-T is about 4 miles OW. At Ryan dam TH there is a 1.6 mile spur OW that heads toward Rainbow Dam and the gravel road section.

Excellent signage at TH's and along trail.

The S-T follows the river, in some places your on a rim 100'-150' above river. there is a parellel section that goes inland and rejoins main trail.

lots of challenging S-T , and enuf vertical grade changes to get an excellent workout. plenty of vistas: the river, 3 dams, the town , the belt mountains, rolling prarire , waterfowl and wildlife. i suspect rattlers in summer!

some sections I rate a 5. if you spill you could roll or fall 50-100' into the river. if your still clipped on its "hello davy jones"

good workout, good challenge, great scenery.

one of my favorites!

Recommended Route:
ryan dam or Marony Dam TH.

Review Date
June 6, 2005

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Aerobic Difficulty
 4 of 5

Technical Difficulty
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a week

Reviewed by: colby_mck ,  Weekend Warrior

Summary:
This is one of Great Falls' nicest singletrack trails. One of the best things about this particular one is that you don't have to drive 20 minutes to get the trailhead. It starts at the end of Rainbow Falls and goes for a long ways. There is plenty of good dips, hills, and descents. I ride my full suspension on it, but it's not really nescesary. A hardtail would be more suitable. You get plenty of great views of the river and it's most pretty at sunset. The only thing you have to worry about then is the bugs. They come out in swarms.

Recommended Route:
Start at the end of the pavemnt at Rainbow Dam. The trail goes for quite a ways, and gets better the further you go. Be sure to bring some water with you though. It's a pretty tough ride.

Other recommended trails in the same area:
The North Shore Trail
Highwood Mountains

Review Date
May 9, 2003

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes

Review Date
October 20, 2002

Overall Rating
 3 of 5

Ridden Trail:
Once a month

Visitors rate this review
5.00 of 5, 1 votes