Copper City Trails was a project by the Southwest Montana Mountain Bike Association in partnership the Bureau of Land Management’s Butte Field Office. The plan called for 17+/- miles of bike-optimized trails, open to hikers and trail runners. The system encompasses a wide range of trails including beginner-friendly, technical ridge, flow, and two downhill-only bike-only trails. There is also a youth-focused skills park with skills features and a pump track catering to all ages and abilities. The project launched in 2017 and was completed in 2019.
Copper City is a non-motorized trail system
E-bikes, dirt bikes, ATVs/side-by-sides and other forms of motorized transport are allowed only on designated motorized routes.
Only mountain bikers and hikers can access the trails at Copper City.
Driving vehicles off of designated routes is Illegal
Driving your vehicle above the Neversweat Kiosk alongside this trail to park or shuttle that or any other trail is NOT PERMITTED.
Violation of this travel management plan can lead to Federal Fines and Federal Prosecution; not to mention potentially ruining access to this trail for everyone.
Curious what is open to drive on? Check Trailforks.
Current Conditions
Map on Trailforks
Curious about camping at Copper City?
COPPER CITY HAS ONLY DISPERSED CAMPING
WHAT IS DISPERSED CAMPING?
Dispersed camping is allowed on public land for a period not to exceed 14 days within a 28 consecutive day period. The 28 day period begins when a camper initially occupies a specific location on public lands. The 14 day limit may be reached either through a number of separate visits or through 14 days of continuous overnight occupation during the 28 day period. After the 14th day of occupation, the camper must move outside of a 25 mile radius of the previous location until the 29th day since the initial occupation. The purpose of this special rule is to prevent damage to sensitive resources caused by continual use of any particular areas. In addition, campers must not leave any personal property unattended for more than 10 days.
Dispersed camp sites are located along most secondary roads and may not be marked. Popular locations can be recognized by the telltale flat disturbed area that has been used as a camp site before. Not all flat spots are sites. If possible, please use existing sites to avoid creating new disturbances. To further protect your public lands, campers must not dispose of any refuse, hazardous materials, sewage, or in any manner pollute the surrounding area.
Above from BLM website: https://www.blm.gov/programs/recreation/camping
History You Ride Through
Copper City Trails is located just outside of Three Forks Montana. The history of mining in the area dates back to 1300 BC where the peoples of Pelican Lake mined for chert. By the late 1800’s early settlers to Gallatin County recognized colors in the rock outcroppings and found gold in a massive boulder of copper quartz. After digging directly beneath the boulder, the shaft yielded several mining car loads of high grade ore, causing considerable interest from several mining companies. The newcomers staked out a number of mines and got to work.
Through the 1880’s, mining companies dwindled with little success. In 1889, a number of the claims were purchase by one of the leading capitalists in the area. Local residents speculated that a smelter would be built near Three Forks and the town would be chosen as the state capitol, but when the financial crisis of 1893 hit, a number of the mining companies took a turn for the worse. Nearing the turn of the century, the mining in Copper City continued to decline for various reasons as the town of Three Forks flourished.
