America has been fixated with roads ever since the federal government cleared the way to build the nation’s first major route – the Cumberland Road between the Potomac and Ohio rivers – in the early 1800s.
That interest grew into a full-blown love affair by the middle of the 20th century, as the highway system sprawled across the landscape and automobiles came down in price so that middle-class families could afford to park one in the dooryard. Suddenly, family vacations were as much about the journey as the destination, and the road trip was born.
In Northwest Montana, there are plenty of paths worth exploring, routes that take visitors to those out-of-the-way gems; places that are worth pulling over to see. To inspire you to pack the cooler, fill the gas tank and hit the road this summer, here are five road trips that are just beyond our driveways.
Going-to-the-Sun Road
West Glacier to St. Mary – 50 miles
Esquire Magazine called it a drive that every person should do once before they die and we could not agree more. Glacier National Park’s Going-to-the-Sun Road between West Glacier and St. Mary is a scenic wonder slicing across the heart of the Crown of the Continent. Constructed in the early 1930s and named a National Historic Landmark, driving the Sun Road is an experience you’ll never forget. Local tip: Hit the road early to see the sun rise over the mountains and you won’t have to deal with the onslaught of visitors later in the day.
The North Fork Road
Columbia Falls to Polebridge – 35 miles
More often than not, it’s the road less traveled that leaves the biggest impression and that is certainly the case with the North Fork Road. This mostly dirt road along the North Fork of the Flathead River is a scenic route that takes visitors into the often-overlooked northeast corner of Glacier National Park and the hidden gem that is the town of Polebridge. Local tip: Stop in at the Polebridge Mercantile and Bakery and get one of their legendary huckleberry bear claws.
The East Shore Highway
Bigfork to Polson – 33 miles
If you’re just trying to get from point A to point B then take U.S. Highway 93. But if you have time to spare when traveling along Flathead Lake, then driving south take a left at Somers and roll down Montana Highway 35 on the east side. Even though the road is a little slower and a little curvier, what it lacks in speed it gains in scenery. It also takes you to three state parks: Wayfarers, Yellow Bay and Finley Point. Local tip: Save this trip for the afternoon to watch the sunset over Flathead Lake before grabbing a bite to eat on the dock at The Raven in Woods Bay.
The Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway
Libby to Eureka – 67 miles
If you’re tired of the crowds – and we won’t lie, the Sun Road can get crowded in July – and want to roll on the open road, then the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway is for you. Crossing the many remote miles between Libby and Eureka, this scenic road travels along the shores of its namesake that was created in the 1970s by the construction of the Libby Dam. Local tip: Take the time to pull off the road and check out the Libby Dam. Free guided tours of the dam and powerhouse are given daily through Labor Day.
The Theodore Roosevelt International Highway
West Glacier to East Glacier Park – 55 miles
Stretching more than 4,000 miles from Portland, Maine to Portland, Oregon, the Theodore Roosevelt International Highway has many scenic miles, but the highlight might be the 55 miles along Glacier National Park’s southern boundary. In these parts, the road is better known as U.S. Highway 2, a twisting route that takes visitors to places like Nyack, Essex and Marias Pass. Local tip: Save your appetite for East Glacier Park and pull up a seat at the Two Medicine Grill, a classic, old-fashioned roadside diner.