Maud S. Loop

Dogs Leashed

Features Fall Colors · River/Creek · Views · Wildflowers

This route climbs to a beautiful vista overlooking Butte. A quick ascent with a great series of alternating grades, this 4.3-mile run is a great midweek trip or afternoon trip that has plenty of space to pause and take in the hillside.

Shortly after the trailhead, there is a split in the trail. Left will wind you up the switchbacks of the Maud S. Loop Trail #4816, and right will take you straight up the hill on the Maud S. Canyon Trail #4815. The right path (often taken by horses) will take a bit over a quarter mile off your trip, both up and down.

At the top of the initial switchbacks, the trail crosses railroad tracks and turns into mostly singletrack until you return to the lower section. Almost immediately you'll reach the loop of this track. This description will be taking the right and following Maud S. Canyon #4815 to the top.

The path will continue east in a relatively flat manner until it crosses the canyon and the creek that (sometimes) runs across it. It will then begin a series of switchbacks and ascents that will take runners through trees and open hillside.

At just over two miles and 960 ft of accent, an intersection of Maud S. Loop Trail #4816, Maud S. Canyon #4815, and the continuation to the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDT) No. 87 all merge. To the right, the Maud S. Canyon #4815 will continue up to the CDT (see other maps on this site) and to the left will take you to the Maud S. Canyon Vista and down Maud S. Loop Trail #4816 back to the bottom again.

This trail will lead you straight out (more or less) to the vista overlooking Butte. It will then follow similar terrain back down to the railroad tracks alternating between switchbacks and shallow, straight descents.

Though there are trees on this path, it is mostly exposed to the elements. This trail is typically well traveled and often has many visitors. There is typically lots of room for people to step off the trail without breaking stride.