Montana · Mountain biking · Blue Mountain

Waxwing

0.4 mi
distance
61 ft
climb
May–Oct
best months

Is Waxwing open right now?

Alert in the area

The Forest Service lists an alert for Lolo National Forest.

  • East Fork Big Creek Road & Trail Closure- Superior Ranger District

    Agency alert covering Lolo National Forest · Order 26-003- · USFS · Lolo National Forest

As of · Source: USFS · Lolo National Forest. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

Waxwing is a short mountain biking route in the Missoula Ranger District of Lolo National Forest, about 0.35 miles long. The climb from start to finish is only 61 feet, with the high point at 3,363 feet and the low at 3,258 feet, so it works as a quick connector between other trails in the area. The Forest Service manages the surrounding land. The route is rated easy in its own right, but it also serves as a link to several other options. The Blue Mountain Bike Spur 1 and the Meadowlark route are both about 0.2 miles away, and the Forest to Foothills trail is close by as well. For a place to stop, Pattee Canyon Picnic Area is about 2.8 miles away. Summer is the most comfortable time to ride. Typical averages from the nearby Missoula airport weather station show July highs around 85°F with lows near 51°F, and June and September both average highs in the low 70s. Winter brings highs near freezing and regular snow days.

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · May–Oct

    Best time to visit Waxwing

    Best months: May–October. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      32° / 18°

      13 wet · 10 snow

    2. Feb

      37° / 21°

      11 wet · 8 snow

    3. Mar

      48° / 27°

      11 wet · 5 snow

    4. Apr

      56° / 32°

      11 wet · 2 snow

    5. May

      66° / 40°

      12 wet

    6. Jun

      73° / 46°

      12 wet

    7. Jul

      85° / 51°

      7 wet

    8. Aug

      84° / 50°

      6 wet

    9. Sep

      73° / 42°

      7 wet

    10. Oct

      56° / 32°

      10 wet · 1 snow

    11. Nov

      40° / 25°

      11 wet · 5 snow

    12. Dec

      31° / 18°

      12 wet · 9 snow

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at Missoula Intl Ap, MT, 6.4 mi away at 3,192 ft. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

Map and trail data © OpenStreetMap contributors