The rims are a natural sandstone shelf feature that run along the north side of the city of Billings, Montana. The trails along the rims consist of three legs that can be ridden seperately or in combination. The three trails combined provide an 18 mile round trip with about 575 ft. of elevation gain.

The trails range from paved to technical singltrack trails. The eastern end of the area includes the steepest climbs of the area, the middle section is full of slickrock and cliffs, and the last section is the the most diverse with great smooth singletrack and the some of the most technical riding in the area.

The Billings Rims are also a great park for excellent natural drops of all sizes and other natural features that require a great deal of technical riding skills and experience.

Caution is always advised when riding on The Rims as many sections of the trails either run within feet of the cliffs that have claimed lives, or

Kind of a "Mini Moab" in places

the trail heads straight to the edge and then cuts sharply to follow the edge.

Interesting Stuff about the Rims

(Stolen from the Billings Gazette...read full article)

The sandstone prow that divides the lower part of the city from the Heights has been explored by humans for centuries. Many left their mark here - from ancient pictographs to contemporary love notes scratched into rock.

Here are a few of the secrets hidden in the Rims:

Devil's Kitchen

The Rimrocks provide many places to explore. One is "Devil's Kitchen," a deep crack in the Rims above 11th Avenue North that leads to a cave. Devil's Kitchen has been popular with generations of Billings kids.

Immel-Jones Massacre

The Rimrocks may have been the location of the Immel-Jones Massacre during fur-trading days.

In May 1823, Robert Jones and Michael Immel were leading a group of 30 Missouri Fur Co. trappers through the Yellowstone Valley. As they passed through a narrow passage, Blackfeet indians attacked them and killed seven trappers, including the two leaders, and wounded four others.

Blasting during construction of Sixth Avenue North in the early 1900s unearthed seven human skulls, perhaps the remains of the slain trappers.

Stairs

At least five sets of stairs have been cut up the Rims on the Billings side of the Yellowstone River. Most of the stairs have been eroded to the point of being unusable. Here's a little bit about the best preserved set of steps steps:

A set of stairs was carved into the cliffs by the Chamber of Commerce in 1910 as a way to get people to the top of the Rims to sightsee before North 27th Street was extended. The top of the stairs is just east of a dying cottonwood tree directly north of the Montana State University-Billings dorms. The bottom of the stairs is behind the MSU-Billings Physical Education Building.

The Face on the Rims

A remarkable piece of American Indian art is barely visible on the Rims at Sixth Avenue North and North Seventh Street.

The painting on the rock wall is a round face with wide-open eyes, nostrils and a rectangle mouth. Outlining the face are oblong shapes arrayed like rays of the sun. Within the face are circles and X's carved into the rock.

Getting There

If you can find Billings, you can find The Rims. Just look north from anywhere in town (except the Heights!). From downtown, you have three points of access to the trails.

1) Go to Boothill Cemetery and park behind Applebee's.

2) Drive up 27th Street, take a right through the yield sign on the top of the hill, and then another right into the parking area for the paved trails.

3) Drive up Zimmerman Trail, take a left at the top, and then another left into the parking area.

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Good Places to Have an After-Ride Beer!

Refer above to the red placemarks for these good places for a beer!

Montana Brewing Company
FLAGSHIP BEERS:
• SANDBAGGER GOLD - Light, Crisp, and Sociable
• WHITETAIL WHEAT - Refreshing and Thirst Quenching
• FATBELLY AMBER - Rich, Malty, and Smooth
SEASONAL BEERS
• Dark Side • Hop Heads Only • Tutti Frutti • Brewer's Choice

Yellowstone Valley Brewing Company
• Black Widow Stout
• Grizzly Wulff Wheat (my personal favorite!)
• Huckle-Weizen
• Renegade Red ESB
• Wild Fly Ale

Angry Hanks Microbrewery
• Anger Management Belgian Wheat
• Blonde Ale
• Dirty Girl Dunkel Weizen
• Dog Slobber Brown Ale
• Head Trauma India Pale Ale
• Pastey White Boy Prohibition Style Ale
• Street Fight Imperial Red Ale

MacKenzie River Pizza
Not a microbrewery, but this place serves the BEST pizza on earth and has a great selection of Montana micro brews. I would suggest ordering the thin crust greek veggie pizza with kalamata olives...with a Montana wheat beer to wash it down!

Local Bike Shops

Giant and Raleigh:
The Bike Shop on Grand
1934 Grand Ave
Billings, MT
(406) 652-1202
• My favorite bike shop in Billings! You might even get a discount if you give the manager a six pack of PBR!!

Trek and Specialized:
The Spoke Shop
1910 Broadwater Ave
Billings, MT
(406) 656-8342

Gary Fisher and Rocky Mountain
Scheels Sports
300 S 24th St W
Billings, MT
(406) 656-9220
• A bit of a box store feel, but a good service department

Local Races

Big Sky State Games
• The annual Montana State Games...the mountain bike race has in the past been located on the eastern end of the Rims consisting of a loop from Boothill Cemetery almost all the way to 27th street. Number of laps seperates the classes of racers.

Cow Pie Classique
• I can't find a website or any information on this race. I've never had the chance to ride it...if you have any information on this race, please let me know so I can add it!

24 Hours of Rapelje
• While not a part of the rims, this race is near and is a GREAT time!
CLICK HERE TO ACCESS THE PAGE FOR THE 24 HOURS OF RAPELJE

• The 24 Hours of Rapelje is a USA Cycling sanctioned endurance mountain bike race held on the weekend in June closest to the summer solstice. The 24 Hours of Rapelje brings riders of all ages and skill levels from around the country to Rapelje each year. Riding in teams of 3 (3-man Class), 5 (Festival Class), 6 or more (Carnival Class) or riding solo, participants in this race must complete a course known for its washboards, rolling terrain, and occasional interference from cattle that wander too close to the course. Riders camp in an open field. Facilities and entertainment are provided by the Stockman Cafe. A pancake feed accompanied by live music is held at midnight at the end of the race.