I checked out Leverich Canyon on Sunday. It's a great trail with quick access from town. I've been fortunate for the past few years to have very good access to mountain bikeable single track. Paonia was an 8 minute ride to fast, flowing desert single track. Crested Butte was a 5 minute ride to sick trails, and 20 minutes to world class/IMBA Epic listed/mind blowing rides. I'm fairly spoiled and have realized how Colorado-centric my mindset has become. I have this assertion that every mountain town "should" have instantaneous access to world class goods. Now I don't want to complain - Bozeman has it all and the goods are very good; but it is an adjustment on the mountain bike side of things as many of the trails are drive-to, the trails involve some hike-a-bike and are more of a technical nature than "flowy". Leverich Canyon takes out a bit of the sting by being a quick trip from town (probably a 30 minute ride to the trail head if I committed) with some serious challenge. Montanans build their trails steep! Good luck on those 34/20 single-speeds, my friends. You'll want a little ring. Leverich is steep, fun, and fast. There's also some top notch trail management happening too, sending foot, horse, and uphill bike traffic in one direction and downhill bike traffic in the other. Gravity fed users are cordoned off, minimizing user conflict and giving some room to really open things up. I saw runners, hikers, equestrians, hard tails, downhill rigs, and department store bikes. Diversity is fun! Everyone seemed to be getting along. Mountain biking in these parts seems to be part of a fun hog's repertoire rather than "the thing". It will be an adjustment, but a welcome one, as I'm looking forward to spending more time on foot, accessing places that are not open to bikes, wilderness areas, and The Park.
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