Switchback

Switchback is a mountain biking route in the Swan Lake Ranger District of Flathead National Forest in northwest Montana, managed by the Forest Service. The ride starts at about 4,200 feet and climbs to roughly 6,370 feet over a 2.4-mile stretch, with a total gain of 2,211 feet. The steepest part comes early, around 0.18 miles in, where the grade reaches about 29 percent. The route is a short, steep climb rather than a long ride. The high point is about 2,200 feet above the start, and the trail also drops about 955 feet on the way back. That makes it a good option for a short, punchy outing rather than a full-day ride. Several other destinations sit close by. Mt. Aeneas and Noisy Creek are both about 0.8 miles away, and Camp Misery is about a mile off. For an overnight stay, Graves Creek Campground is about 7 miles away.