Big Sky Adventure Loop

Uncover Montana's new adventure loop that is destined to become a classic. Traversing 12 mountains passes and connecting Missoula, Helena and Anaconda, is the epic 55f mile Big Sky Adventure Loop.

Route Overview

Trip Length & Season

Adventure Rating: Epic Trip Length: 555 miles, 6-10 days Season: Typically the high elevation passes open in June and become impassable in October, but the season may open earlier/later depending on snow at higher elevation. Always check these conditions when heading out earlier/later in the season.

Digital Maps & GPX Files

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• Big Sky Adventure Loop

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Technical Ratings & Terrain

Avg Technical Rating: 1-2

Peak Technical Rating: 4

Typical Terrain: The vast majority of the route consists of wided and graded dirt roads with a few bumpy spots here and there. The only real moderate section can be found around Lava Mountain, which there is an alternative route to bypass.

Recommended Vehicle / Moto / Adventure Vans

Recommended Vehicle: Stock 4x4. Full Size trucks, especially with campers should consider skipping the narrow trails that slalom through the forest at Lava Mountain. Take the Lava Mountain Bypass.

Recommended Moto: A big bike is suitable as long as you take the Lava Mountain Bypass. Skilled riders on mid-sized bikes should be able to manage Lava Mountain.

Adventure Vans: Sprinters and Transits are good to go, but you'll want to take the Lava Mountain Bypass to skip the tight and moderately technical trails of Lava Mountain.

Fuel, Provisions, and Recommended Gear

Fuel:

• Lolo to Frenchtown, 125 mi

• Frenchtown to Seeley Lake, 55 mi

• Seeley Lake to Lincoln, 60 mi

• Lincoln to Helena, 70 mi

• Helena to Anaconda, 90 mi

• Anaconda to Lolo, 95 mi

Provisions: Provisions can be obtained in the same general vicinity as fuel. Gear: n/a

Alternative Routes

Lava Mountain Bypass

Distance: 24 miles

Technical Rating: 1-2 This route bypasses the moderately technical and tight trails of Lava Mountains and is recommended for travellers on big bikes, full size trucks, and Sprinter and Transit vans.

Camping Recommendations

Dispersed camping is generally allowed on national forest and BLM lands. One thing to keep in mind, there is a large amount of private property on this route, specially through secitons that parallel rivers. Be sure to check that you're on public lands where dispersed camping is permitted before setting up camp. Some of our favorite places to camp along the Magruder Discovery Tour include:

• Western slope of the Bitterroot Range

• Jocko River and Twin Lakes vicinity (Tribal permits may need to be obtained to camp here)

• Continental Divide DP (just downslope of the discovery point there's a big clearing)

• Chessman Reservoir

• Boulder River (various campsites along the river)

• Rock Creek (varius campgrounds and campsites along the river)

Discovery Points

• Fort Fizzle Historice Site

• Bitterroot Range

• Lolo Pass Visitor Center

• Clark Fork of the Columbia

• Missoula

• Jocko River

• Mission Range

• St Mary's Lake

• Double Arrow Lookout

• Clearwater River

• Seeley Lake

• Swan Range

• Morrell Mountain Lookout

• Monture Guard Station cabin

• North Fork of the Blackfoot

• Madison Range

• Continental Divide Trail.

• Granite Butte Lookout

• Helena

• Boulder Mountains

• Boulder River

• Flint Creek Range

• Anaconda

• Anaconda Range

• Georgetown Lake

• Morgan-Case Homestead

• Hogback Homestead

• Sapphire Mountains

• Valley of the Moon

• Rock Creek

• Bitterroot River

Land Managers & Other Resources

Land Managers

• Lolo National Forest

• Flathead Indian Reservation

• Helena-Lewis & Clark National Forest

• Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Permits & Papers

If you intend to camp in the Jocko River area, you'll likely need to obtain tribal permits from the Flathead Indian Reservation.

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Route Details

Welcome to Big Sky Country! Here, rugged, snow-capped mountain peaks kiss the clouds, and seemingly endless horizons stretch into infinity. Vibrant enclaves like Bozeman and Missoula are home to a mix of urban dwellers, outdoor enthusiasts, and, of course, the cowboys and old timers who've called Montana home their entire lives.

The Big Sky Adventure Route is a 555-mile loop connecting Missoula, Helena, and Anaconda, venturing through 12 mountain passes. Those in search of adventure, history, and nature on a grandiose scale will undoubtedly fall in love with what we believe is the best overland route in Montana.

While the route can be driven in either direction or picked up at any location, the official starting point is Lolo (Discovery Point), a few miles outside of Missoula. Your initial miles will be spent on Highway 12 pavement heading west before transitioning to dirt roads that lead into the rugged Bitterroot Range (Discovery Point) and Pass Number One. Like much of the Big Sky Adventure Loop, the roads and trails through the Bitterroots are considered "soft-roading"—dirt and gravel roads easily managed by almost any AWD crossover. Yet, don't let the mild nature of the trails detract from the incredible scenery. This section of the track is filled with emerald forests, lush alpine meadows, rushing mountain streams, and impressive views of the snow-capped Rocky Mountains.

As the track descends, it crosses Highway 12, where you'll find the Lolo Pass Visitor Center (Discovery Point), a worthwhile visit. Exploring the route northwest of Lolo Pass, expect more of the same stunning scenery. This section includes a few bumps and some double-track, but nothing technical or moderately challenging. Eventually, you'll reach Petty Creek Road, where the dirt turns back to pavement, leading to the Clark Fork of the Columbia River (Discovery Point). A short paved section leads back to dirt as the track parallels the river before crossing it again, followed by another brief paved interlude. From Seeley Lake, you'll head into the Swan Range.

Before making your way up and over Pass Four, consider refueling at Frenchtown. Upon summiting Pass Four and reaching Arlee, the route follows the Jocko River (Discovery Point) through tribal lands managed by the Flathead Indian Reservation (permits required for camping). The side trip to the scenic St. Mary's Lake (Discovery Point) is an excellent spot for camping, a snack, or lunch. This portion of the route traverses the picturesque Mission Range (Discovery Point), whose most rugged peaks are just a few miles north of the Jocko River.

Eventually, you'll find yourself at the foot of another large, picturesque body of water: Seeley Lake (Discovery Point), the namesake of the small town on its southern shore. Continuing on, the views atop Morrell Mountain Lookout (Discovery Point) offer one of the best vantage points of the surrounding mountain scenery along the track. Crossing the North Fork of the Blackfoot (Discovery Point), you'll venture into the Madison Range (Discovery Point), eventually summiting Pass Six. Similar to St. Mary's Lake, the short side trip to Coopers Lake leads to another incredibly scenic alpine lake. The scenery along this portion of the track is some of the best on the Big Sky Adventure Loop—quintessential Montana Rockies!

Crossing over pavement at Lincoln leads to Passes Seven and Eight, in addition to Granite Butte Lookout (Discovery Point). This is another scenic stretch through the mountains, but here you can expect a few narrow shelf roads before descending the mountain slopes towards Helena (Discovery Point). Like many of Montana's towns and cities, Helena was founded due to the frantic search for gold in the region in the 1860s. Helena also marks the unofficial halfway point of the loop. From here, you'll begin making your way west back towards the Missoula area.

Take the pavement heading south out of town into the Boulder Mountains. The section around Lava Mountain marks the one truly moderate trail section along the route. For those with Sprinters, full-size trucks (the trail narrows significantly!), and large adventure bikes, the Lava Mountain Bypass is recommended to skip this tricky and tight section. However, for those who choose to tackle Lava Mountain, expect narrow and steep trails, plenty of loose rocks, and a twisty track that slaloms through the trees. Just south of Lava Mountain, you'll climb over Pass Nine. From here, the route begins the long journey back west towards Missoula.

Descending the Boulder Mountains, you'll find yourself following the scenic Boulder River (Discovery Point). Numerous dispersed campsites and campgrounds along the river make it an excellent place to set up camp for the night. Before reaching Anaconda (Discovery Point), you'll need to conquer Pass Ten.

Unlike Helena's beginnings, Anaconda traces its founding to the copper boom in nearby Butte. Anaconda's sole purpose was to house the massive smelter needed to process the huge quantities of copper extracted from the mines in Butte. Leaving Anaconda, you'll first pass through the Anaconda Range (Discovery Point) and further west, the Sapphire Mountains (Discovery Point). The section along Rock Creek is filled with historic homesteads, like the Morgan-Case and Hogback Homesteads (both Discovery Points). Rock Creek also features a number of campgrounds and campsites; however, be forewarned, this is a popular camping spot, especially on weekends.

As you make your way north back to Interstate 90, you're officially on the final leg of the journey. The track summits the final pass, Pass Twelve through Eightmile Saddle, before descending back down to the Clark Fork and eventually heading north towards Lolo. You did it! You're officially a Big Sky veteran.

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