Now a Montana question

[dennis 221]

I know ,sharing is frowned upon by some,but ill chance this question. Montana benchmark map page 76. Will any of you share experience on fr. 451to 373 ending at lolo pass visitor center. Routes look awesome on paper. Thanks

 

[AWG_Pics]

It is a great road, though dusty. Been some years since I have been on it. I do love those roads. When do you plan to drive it? There are likely significant snow banks still melting at the moment. And in September an early storm could shut it down for the winter.

Of course, keep an eye on wildfire activity just before and during your travel.

Have you given any thought to driving the Magruder trail? It runs from Conner Montana (upper end of the Bitteroot valley) to Elk City Idaho. Longest unpaved backcountry road in the lower 48.

 

[dennis 221]

Thanks be up there late July- early aug. I'll look at that now..

 

[Wango]

Second on the Magruder, fun drive. Late summer/early fall is a great time to drive it.

 

[dennis 221]

That road looks doable

 

[astropuppy]

The Dixie fire complex is currently 15 miles south of elk city. https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7608/

 

[Taku]

There is also currently a fire at Lolo Pass on both sides

 

[Wango]

It's been pretty smoky over here. Just keeps getting earlier in the year.

 

[larryqp]

I started on the IDBDR in Lowman, ID 7/5/21, and planned to follow it to Wallace. when I got to Elk City the Dixie Fire was growing and it was real smokey. I was able to drive the Magruder to the end and when I arrived in Darby, I discovered the Lolo Fire was expanding with a section of road closed, evacuation orders for some and standby orders for others. I decided to stop heading north in Darby and turned south. I'll come back to do the Lolo Motorway and more of the IDBDR another year. Idaho is very, very dry.

I stayed at a number of free campsites along the Salmon River as well as the Snake River. Idaho still has lots of free NFS
campgrounds as well as dispersed camping. I saw lots of FWCs on Idaho Roads as well as in WY..