Obviously this thread hasn't been touched in a while, but I'm moving to Missoula in June and would really love some ideas of great places to ride all mountain/dh trails! I know there are some in the Rattlesnake and Blue Mountain from my research. I hail from flatland Illinois, so any elevation change more than 100 feet is going to seem amazing to me!
I know but those cost money, and I was more looking for trails right around Missoula, but I guess the trails there just aren't too aggressive?
Well it depends....certain trails are more aggressive than others. Deadmans is aggressive but also gnarly because its a moto trail. But when its not beat to crap from the moto's it can run pretty sweet.
The Bitteroot has fantastic AM opportunities. Palisades and Ward mountain come to mind. Also the mineral peak trail is amazing but is like an 8 hour day (Sheep + 2000 more feet of climbing.) These are more like old school downhill than jump trails. Think steep fall line rocky singletrack. Anything else in the Missoula area (even Blue Mountain) is more suited to XC. I ride a 120mm SS hartail for everything close and a 5 inch bike when I travel.