Mount Ascension’s Named Trails

Named to complement the 1906 trail on Mount Helena, the 2006 is the most direct route to the top of Mount Ascension- and a bit beyond. Switchbacks, punctuated by a few short, steep sections typify the northern section of the trail, and a nice, rolling meander through a glade of mixed pines awaits the trail walker who goes end to end. This glade has wildflowers and lots of birds. The birds are most abundant during the spring and fall migrations, though owls and forest raptors like Goshawks and Sharp-shinned hawks have been seen on occasion in the fall.

Main Access point(s): Beattie trailhead (lower access), Arrowroot Drive trailhead.

Cross trails: Easy Rider, Aftershock; Mount Ascension Loop, reaches a junction of Entertainment, and Mount Ascension Loop (again) at the saddles between the two peaks of Mount A, before continuing on to Arrowroot Drive trailhead.

This is a very enjoyable trail that is well worth the effort it takes to get to it. From the cool wooden bridge at the intersection with Entertainment to the lovely limestone outcrops of rock midway through, this trail is simply an enjoyable mid-elevation contour that connects Entertainment and 2006 to each other. The views of Rodney Ridge, Wakina Sky, And Mount Helena are very nice, and one outcropping of rocks is visible from town. Some of Aftershock is nicely treed and other stretches are wide open.

Main Access point(s): Beattie St. trailhead, DeFord trailhead, Old Shooting Range trailhead

Cross trails: None, connects Entertainment and 2006 trails.

This trail rising from the Arrowroot Drive trailhead is a great way to get a sunrise or sunset from the top of Mount Ascension without the long and winding 2006 trail from Beattie being part of the equation. It takes a bit of time to drive to the Arrow Root trailhead, but it is quite worth it. The lower reaches are filled with early season wildflowers and butterflies, and the upper reaches have a nice wide variety of blues and purples during the spring and summer- Pasqueflower, Harebells, Lupine, and several species of the ‘Blues’ family of butterflies. Elk, grouse, waxwing, and Red-tailed Hawks are occasional visitors.

Main Access point(s) Arrow Root trailhead

Cross trails: None, connects 2006 to Entertainment.

After climbing a couple of long switchbacks, Archery Range branches off from Entertainment. From there it generally contours along the western slope of Mount Ascension and terminates at the main intersection of trails above Beattie St. trailhead. Lots of spring birds and wildflowers are abundant through the warmer months. 

Main Access point(s): Old Shooting Range trailhead, Beattie St. trailhead, DeFord trailhead.

Cross trails: Easy Rider; Ridge Rider.

The lower reach of DeFord parallels Davis Gulch Rd and climbs quite gently up to the Old Shooting Range trailhead. It passes the archery range that is the namesake of the Archery Range trail, and it is also paralleled by Oro and Plata bike trails. Oro (gold) is the more technical bike trail, while Plata (silver) is a bit more tame. That the powers that be were able to come up with a name that incorporates our State Motto as well as two different levels of challenge is to be commended!

Main Access point(s): DeFord trailhead

Cross trails: Eagle Scout; Rodney Meadow

Rising from the DeFord trailhead, Eagle Scout offers about 4 zigs and 5 zags as it climbs to the main Mount Ascension intersection just above Beattie St. This is a popular descent for bikes, runners, and a very popular dog walking trail. 

Main Access point(s): DeFord trailhead, Beattie St. trailhead

Cross trails: None, connects Lower DeFord to the main junction above Beattie St. trailhead. The main junction consists of Little Moab, Pay Dirt, Easy Rider; Archery Range, in addition to Eagle Scout.

Easy Rider is a very nice, north facing contour trail across most of its length. In the easterly direction, it connects to Prickly Pear, which, if followed to its end, takes you to Bompart Hill. Heading west, Easy Rider merges nicely with the Archery Range trail and then Entertainment. Lots of wildflowers and birds can be found in the mixed conifer and open brambly habitats that Easy Rider crosses through. This trail makes a few quick changes in direction. You would be well advised to have a map to follow Easy Rider end-to-end.

Main Access point(s): Beattie St. trailhead, DeFord trailhead.

Cross trails: Pail Rider; Intersects with Meatloaf and Prickly Pear Trails; Prickly Pear Connector; 2006; Pail Rider (again), Archery Range.

This a beautiful trail to walk. The parking is a bit tight- maybe three cars can safely park along Arrowroot Rd. Upper Eddye West is a beautiful example of what a ponderosa savannah should look like. Lots of room for our antlered friends to graze or browse on the abundant grasses, forbs, and shrubs. Middle Eddye West is a very nice section of small zigs and zags peppered with rocks and a draw that looks like it might, on occasion, have a bit of water in it. Lower Eddye West is a very nice meander downhill to Arrowroot Road. This trail, and the eastern section are named for an ardent support of trail access who helped secure the access across the private land that makes up the entirety of the surrounding land on the east trail.

Main Access point(s) Arrow Root trailhead; Arrowroot Rd.

Cross trails: Phat Trak (bike only trail- not mapped on this site); connects Mount Ascension Loop, Phat Track (bike trail- not mapped on this site) to Arrowroot Drive

If the smiles I see on the faces of bikers is any indication, Entertainment trail is aptly named. From the saddle between the summits, Entertainment climbs to the higher summit and then becomes a gravity driven roller coaster all the way to the Old Shooting Range trailhead area on Davis Gulch Rd. Entertainment splits into a longer forested section, and a short steeper meadow section and reconnects at the intersection with Aftershock. Wildflowers on the sunny, exposed ridges, birds and butterflies in the meadows and treed sections, and either a lovely walk (in the downhill direction) or a heart-pumping climb going uphill define this trail.

Main Access point(s): Old Shooting Range trailhead, Arrow Root trailhead

Cross trails: Archery Range; Aftershock; Arrow Root connector; 2006.

Little Moab starts at a trailhead that looks like it is someone’s driveway; I believe that it actually is. It soon, cuts uphill across an enjoyably rocky outcrop of limestone with abundant wildflowers eking their existence out in the meagre ‘soil’ that collects in the slickrock-like limestone and granite habitat that is a little reminiscent of Moab- minus the reds and oranges, or course. The trail makes its way up to a nice little hillock or you can go just a bit further and hit the main lower Mount Ascension trail intersection. This trail crosses private property (there are signs) so please, stay on the trail.

Main Access point(s): Little Moab trailhead, Beattie St. trailhead

Cross trails: 2nd Street Connector.

About .4 miles (.6k) before you get to the saddle near the final push to either of the summits of Mount Ascension, the Loop trail branches off to the left. Generally speaking, the Loop is a contour trail around the north, east, and south sides of the lower summit. Treed and shady on the north side; open views to the east; and a lovely, sloped ponderosa pine savannah on the south, this is a very nice alternative to ‘summiting’ Mount Ascension. The eastern stretch is a great place to see the sunrise.

Main Access point(s): 2006 Trail

Cross trails: Mount Ascension Ridge; Phat Trak Flow; Eddye McClure- West; 2006; the Loop trail is continuous with 2006 back to its starting point.

The Mount Ascension Ridge is short and to the point, but gives some great views of Helena as it drops down to intersect Mount Ascension Loop trail at the easternmost trail point near the summit. This is another terrific trail to be on as the sun rises. The trail splits near the summit and reconnects a few hundred meters downslope. The more northerly (town-side) trail is wider and more rubbly. The southerly trail is a narrower and still a good bit rubbly. Take care as you travel this trail.

Main Access point(s): 2006 Trail

Cross trails: None, connects to Entertainment (at the summit) and Mount Ascension Loop at its lower point.

At about .2 miles long (.3 k) each, Pail Rider and Ridge Rider are certainly two of the shortest named trails in the system. Pail Rider provides easy access from the main Mount Ascension intersection at the top of Pay Dirt or Eagle Scout to an intersection near the middle of Easy Rider and the start of the 2006 trail. Ridge Rider, a nearly straight-line trail, drops off at the point where these two trails come together and connects to Archery Range. This map shows both trails together.

Main Access point(s): Beattie St. trailhead

Cross trails: None, each trail connects Easy Rider to (either) itself or Archery Range.

Pay Dirt is accessed by the most obvious trail leading up from the Beattie St. Trailhead. Where Prickly Pear peels off to the left, Pay Dirt climbs to the right through a couple of lovely, rocky, roly-poly stretches that end at the main intersection on lower Mount Ascension. From this spot, you can go anywhere on the hill. Lots of wildflowers can be found in the thin, rocky soils along the short twisty section in the spring and summer.

Main Access point(s): Beattie St. trailhead

Cross trails: None, connects Prickly Pear to the main intersection on lower Mount Ascension.

This is the main trail that leads off from the Beattie St. trailhead. Prickly Pear rises through a few easy twists and turns to a point where you encounter both a double-track wide path and a single track leading uphill to the right. This site’s version of Prickly Pear is the single track. Either of these two trails will take you to the same intersection where Meatloaf, Easy Rider, and Prickly Pear converge. Prickly Pear continues from this intersection as a double-track for about .25 miles (.4k) to the intersection with Easy Rider connector. From that point to the Lime Kiln Rd. trailhead, Prickly Pear trail is a wonderful single track that eventually provides an enjoyable 200 feet (60m) of elevation drop as it twists along a rocky path through an open ponderosa grove along the southern shoulder of Bompart Hill. Birds and wildflowers are abundant in the warmer months and if you prefer not to drop to the Lime Kiln Rd. trailhead, you can enjoy Bompart Hill Loop or go to the summit for some great views on the valley.

Main Access point(s): Beattie St. trailhead; Lime Kiln Rd. trailheads.

Cross trails: Pay Dirt; Meatloaf; Easy Rider; Prickly Pear connector; Rocky Road; Bompart Hill Loop; Bompart Hill summit trail; Bompart Hill Loop (again).

Bompart Hill is a real gem of a small trail system for when you don’t have a lot of time but want a nice variety of trail conditions and a good view. There are thousands of Arrow-leaf Balsamroots in bloom on the north and northeast slopes in the springtime as well as abundant birds and other wildflowers. The main trail, Rocky Road, is a loop around the summit. This trail sees a lot of neighborhood and destination use. There are lots of rocks jutting this way and that in several stretches, which makes for a lovely walk. Bompart Hill trail takes you to the top where the nearly nonexistent ‘soil’ proves to be what a great many of our hardier wildflowers love. Early season flowers can be found on the eastern approach to the top and all around the summit.

Main Access point(s): Lime Kiln Rd. trailheads

Cross trails: Prickly Pear; Bompart Hill (twice).