Soldier Ridge Trail & Soldier Ridge Bench Trail
Located in the foothills of the Bighorns, this 4-mile, non-motorized trail is perfect for a sunrise walk with your dog, trail run, horseback ride, or mountain bike ride. It offers beautiful 360 degree views and is located convenient to Sheridan. Bring a windbreaker during colder months and extra sunscreen and a hat during the summer as the trail follows the exposed ridge.
Soldier Ridge Trail and Soldier Ridge Bench Trail along with the Soldier Ridge Trailhead and motorized and equestrian parking area are located where pavement turns to gravel at the end of W 5th St., about a 5 minute drive from downtown Sheridan. When the road becomes gravel, take the second left (first left is a private driveway) and cross a cattle guard. Turn right into the trailhead parking area.
Soldier Ridge Trail and Soldier Ridge Bench Trail are a combined 4.1 miles and were completed in 2013. These trails were made possible through generous gifts from the Don Roberts Family and ERA Carroll Realty and are a combined conservation and recreation project. Read more about the two conservation easements that protect 1,154 acres along Soldier Ridge, a prominent landmark, on our Conserved Properties page.
Directions: From Sheridan, travel west on 5th Street (Hwy. 330) – about five minutes from downtown Sheridan. When the pavement turns to gravel, take the second left and cross a cattle guard. Turn right into the trailhead parking area.
Hidden Hoot Trail & Hoot Loop Trail
This 3 mile lollipop trail traverses shaded draws, wetlands, and sweeping views of the Bighorns. It is perfect for running, hiking and has quickly become the area’s most popular bike ride. Hidden Hoot Trail connects to the Sheridan Pathways system which makes going from your front door to the outdoors easier than ever before!
Directions: From Sheridan, travel west on 5th Street just past the Y gas station to Black Tooth Park on your left – across the street from the old John Deere store. Park in the Black Tooth Park lot and travel the Sheridan Pathway south for 0.7 miles. Go through the gate onto Hidden Hoot Trail.
The Link & Kicking Horse Trail
Completed in 2020, The Link & Kicking Horse Trail combine to close a loop of about 10 miles on the Soldier Ridge Trail System.
The Link is 1.2 miles and connects Hoot Loop to Kicking Horse Trail via public and private land. Like Hidden Hoot Trail, it is designed for great fun by mountain bikers, hikers, runners and anyone who wishes to experience the “away from town feeling” while being right on the edge of town.
Kicking Horse Trail is 1.5 miles and connects at the junction of Soldier Ridge Trail and Soldier Ridge Bench Trail. Like its name implies, Kicking Horse Trail is open to equestrian use in addition to hiking, biking, running, walking, birding, wildlife watching, flower finding, plant peeping and virtually any other people-powered mode of outdoor recreation.
This 3 mile lollipop trail traverses shaded draws, wetlands, and sweeping views of the Bighorns. It is perfect for running, hiking and has quickly become the area’s most popular bike ride. Hidden Hoot Trail connects to the Sheridan Pathways system which makes going from your front door to the outdoors easier than ever before!
Directions: Continue onto The Link Trail from Hoot Loop or continue onto Kicking Horse Trail from the junction at Soldier Ridge Trail.
Why Community Trails Matter
We work to create Now, more than ever, access to the outdoors is essential to our physical and mental health. SCLT’s growing network of community are visited more than 20,000 times each year, in part, because they make going from your front door to the outdoors easier than before in Sheridan County.
Why are these trails so important?
Below, is a video made by Hesid Brandow and Kevin Knapp about why the Tongue River Water Trail matters so much to their family. Calling the Tongue River Valley an “incredible community treasure,” Hesid says the water trail has spurred interest in the streams through Sheridan. “In our decade living here,we have watched as the area has been cleaned up. Our family benefits daily from the well-maintained creek bank and we are constantly reminded of just how fortunate we are to live in a community with a land trust!”
