Sport-Touring.Net - Missoula to Custer SD

Quote from: Guy on January 19, 2011, 07:02:35 AM

Head south of Missoula on US93, the first part is boring and crushed with traffic, but once you get past Hamilton, things clear out. Either go across on MT38 (38 may or may not be paved, it wasn't 5yrs ago), or continue on down to MT43 (worth going past 43 down to Carmen and turn around and come back, the pass is fun to ride) Then take 278 through Wisdom, and on to Dillon. Take 41 to Twin Bridges, then MT287 to Ennis (you'll pass through Virginia City-a neat old gold mining town that's been restored) Continue on US287 all the way to West Yellowstone (you'll pass next to Earthquake Lake

From West Yellowstone, pass through the park, and out the NE entrance, go over Beartooth Pass to Red Lodge (if it is open, worth checking before you go), turn around and head back over again, and on the other side take the Chief Joseph Scenic Byway. Stop at the Sunlight Bridge over Sunlight Creek (no services, just a high bridge over a deep narrow canyon), continue on over Dead Indian Pass, and down into Cody. From Cody either take US14 or 14A to Dayton WY(both go through the Bighorn Mts, I've been on 14A, it was great, I've heard good things about 14, so if you can, do both)

From Dayton, the options are limited to either US14/16 or I-90 to Moorcroft, but there is a neat side trip to Devil's Tower (of Close Encounters fame) From there US85 is good up to Deadwood, or you can just continue on 16 to Custer

Best yet, I was going to suggest you go over LOLO from West to east, and skip Missoula, met up with Mrs Bird and her driver somewhere around Lolo.
Head south on 93 to Hamilton, 38 west out of Hamilton is gravel (I believe), at Anaconda, head South on a poorly paved road to Wisdom, hook up again w/ the Birds who will be taking a very nice ride south over 93 to 43. From there to West Yellowstone via Dillon and Virginia City ("ghost town") Look at Old Faithful, then hear to Beartooth/ Red Lodge / Chief Joseph back to Cody. (not too much to see in Yellowstone if you live in the Rockies already). Cross over Bighorns (either route is cool, we usually do one route there, and another back.).

From Sheridon to Gillette over 16, then Newcastle and Custer.

Of course depending on time, you could head south from Lolo, down 93 and head into the Sawtooths., Sun Valley etc. Coming back from Colorado, I saw many many roads heading into the mountains that really made me lust for an KTM Adventure, etc. Lots of mining and ghost towns out thataway.

Topic: Missoula to Custer SD - Best roads/Must see's (Read 2349 times)