In the town of West Yellowstone Montana, the Rendezvous Ski Trail System provides over 35 kilometers of great skate ski trails in the winter. These same carefully groomed trails through the forests adjacent to town offer non-technical bike trails for summer riding. It's a fun ride on a warm afternoon like yesterday, when Dave and I took the highway through Island Park and past Henry's Lake where the aspen groves are aflame in seasonal golds and reds.
When we arrived, we were the only car in the parking lot, probably because these trails are better known to skiers than cyclists. The trail never opens up much out of dense lodgepole pine, so it's quite sheltered from wind as you grind over grassy hillocks and past glistening clusters of mushrooms. Since this trail is not a technical single-track, it would be a good family ride for older kids who can power up the many rolling rises. The trail features lots of ups and downs--but a lot of fun, swooping descents. There are signs marking the trail at certain junctions, but know that you are likely to repeat a loop more than once, as we did when we got confused by all the overlapping trails. (Editor's note: there are some trail options in the summer that are not generally groomed in the winter). Still, you are never far from a road that leads back to town.
Finish your ride with a stop at the very small and very homey Free Heel and Wheel, a little bike and ski shop with a coffee shop and bakery. They have a great selection of cool outdoor gear and clothing and some killer homemade chocolate chunk cookies. What better way to spend a late season afternoon?
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