Mountain bike group pedals forward on major trail projects
Trail crew works on Taylor Hellroaring Project. (Courtesy of Flathead Area Mountain Bikers)
Portion of Taylor Hellroaring Project. (Courtesy of Flathead Area Mountain Bikers)
Trail crew works on Taylor Hellroaring Project. (Courtesy of Flathead Area Mountain Bikers)
Trail crew works on Taylor Hellroaring Project. (Courtesy of Flathead Area Mountain Bikers)
Flathead Area Mountain Bikers plans to kick two major trail projects back into gear this season, one at each end of the Flathead Valley.
The nonprofit manages a professional trail maintenance and construction crew that’s dispatched all over the valley. The organization notably upkeeps the trails on Spencer Mountain west of Whitefish but also has some upcoming trails for hikers and bikers to enjoy.
Taylor Hellroaring Project
Continuing work on the trail system northwest of Whitefish in the Whitefish Range is top of mind for Executive Director Ron Brandt. The Taylor Hellroaring Project in the Tally Lake District involves reclaiming miles of the abandoned historic ridge trail to put in a new singletrack connecting to the summit of Big Mountain.
Crews etched in nearly 2 miles of new trail last year and designed and flagged 5.5 miles of trail that will reach Hellroaring Creek south of the ridge. The trail is slated for construction this year.
Bug Creek Project
Another project underway is the Bug Creek Project at Crane Mountain in the Swan Range. Flathead Area Mountain Bikers began working with the Forest Service in 2024 on 5.3 miles of mountain bike specific trails and nearly 10 miles of new multi-use single track.
Last year, the crew built 3.5 miles of trail, including a bi-directional climbing trail.
In the future, the nonprofit plans to build 9 miles of multi-use trail north of the lower access trail and work with national forest partners on a parking lot and restroom.
Crews last year and this year must work around the timber harvest underway in the area.
“That’s why that’s a bit lower on the list. Not because we care about it less,” Brandt joked.
The new trail system will designate around 17 miles of non-motorized trails to the National Forest Trail System.
Opportunities for volunteers to help build and maintain trails will be released this spring.
Reporter Jack Underhill can be reached at 758-4407 and junderhill@dailyinterlake.com.
Portion of Taylor Hellroaring Project. (Courtesy of Flathead Area Mountain Bikers) 
Trail crew works on Taylor Hellroaring Project. (Courtesy of Flathead Area Mountain Bikers) 
Trail crew works on Taylor Hellroaring Project. (Courtesy of Flathead Area Mountain Bikers)