The Weekly Send: 3 Bears Trail
Looking for a short climb with a big reward? 3 Bears delivers flow, tech, and amazing sunset views. One of my favorite post-work rides in Boise, this trail is a quick hit of fun with a fast descent and one solid rock garden to keep you honest.
Welcome Back to The Weekly Send!
I'm back with another trail highlight, and this time we're stepping it up a notch. The first trail I featured here was Lower Hulls Gulch — a true Boise favorite — but today I’m excited to share its bigger, rowdier brother: 3 Bears. It might not have as many rock gardens as Lower Hulls, but it makes up for it with one solid rock garden and some wide-open ridgeline descents that are way faster and more wide open than anything Lower Hulls throws at you.
Let’s send it!
(there's a video edit of this route at the end if you're into that kind of thing)
Route Data
- Trail: 3 Bears
- Access Road: Shawn Mtn Road (aka Rocky Canyon Road)
- Climbing: 1,000 ft (if you pedal up Shawn Mtn Road)
- Distance: 5.35 miles
- Ride Time: 1-2 hours (depending on shuttle vs climb)
Climb or Shuttle?
You’ve got options here:
Climb: If you’re feeling adventurous, you can pedal up Rocky Canyon Road to the 3 Bears trailhead. The road climb aint bad, but be warned— once you start climbing 3 Bears it’s a brutal climb, and there are a few sections that feel like your bike suddenly gained 20 pounds.
Shuttle: This is my go-to. Park at the Boise Bike Park, drive up to Five Mile Gulch Trailhead on Rocky Canyon Road, climb up Five Mile Gulch to Watchman, and let gravity do the work from there. It’s got a steady 1200' of climbing but then it's all downhill from there, and this route is a perfect climb-to-shuttle ratio.
The Ride: What to Expect
If you're following the route I rode, get ready to earn your turns. You'll start by climbing Shaw Mountain Road for about 1.73 miles and gain around 550 feet of elevation. It's a dirt road, so the grade is manageable, but stay alert — this road sees a mix of cars, UTVs, and dirt bikes. I've definitely had a few riders sneak up on me and scare the crap out of me, so keep an ear open as you grind your way up.
Once you reach the 3 Bears junction with Shaw Mountain Road, take a second to catch your breath. You're going to need it. From here, it's another push — just under a mile (0.86 miles) — but it’s the kind of climb that tests your spirit a little. You'll gain about 450 more feet, and the grades get spicy in spots. It’s short, but it’ll make you feel everything.
Time to Drop In
Now for the good stuff—the descent! From the top, you'll drop about 1,000 feet over nearly 3 miles of trail, right back down to your parking spot. It's fast, it's flowy, and it’s packed with enough features to keep you on your toes.
You'll have a couple fun steep sections that are an absolute blast. Then you'll hit one big rock garden, and it’s got multiple line choices depending on how spicy you're feeling. The trail is wide open in places, so you can see way down the trail —so hopefully no surprises hiding around blind corners.
As you roll into the Shane’s Loop junction. Hang a left onto Shane’s Loop, and keep the party going. When you hit the next junction, stay left again and ride Shane’s all the way down to Shaw Mountain Road, where you’ll coast right back to where you started.
Final Thoughts
That’s the 3 Bears \ Shaw Mtn Road loop experience — a tough little climb followed by one of the best descents in the Boise foothills. It’s one of my favorite post-work rides because if you time it right, you’ll catch some absolutely incredible sunset views on the way down.
Forever Two Wheels!
-Myles