Bitterroot Valley Scenic Drives

Here are 7 Bitterroot Valley scenic drives worth taking

An Enjoyable Way to Spend a Day in the Bitterroot

One of the most popular activities for Bitterroot Valley visitors are scenic drives, and we’ve got plenty of them.

You’ll see diverse mountains, rivers and streams, spectacular views and vistas, and open range land in every direction.

There may not be a better way to experience all the Bitterroot Valley has to offer than in your car, where you can see 100’s of miles of this special part of Montana in a day or two.

Although the list below is far from complete, it’s a great starting point for your scenic drive planning.

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Bass Creek Overlook

Pack a lunch and enjoy the picnic area that is unofficially known as the Bass Creek Overlook.

Travel 4 miles north of Stevensville, MT and turn west off of US 93 on to Bass Creek Road and follow to the Bass Creek Recreation Area.

Take FS Road 1136 to the end of the road for outstanding views of the Bitterroot Valley.

Big Hole Valley

This is one of our favorite scenic drives in these parts as the Big Hole Valley is unlike any other part of Montana.

Turn east on MT Highway 43 from US 93 at the Montana-Idaho border about 50 miles south of Hamilton

Head to Wisdom or Jackson for lunch, and jump in the hot springs at Jackson for a relaxing dip in the mineral pools.

Don’t forget to check out the Big Hole National Battlefield!

Eastside Highway

Most everyone uses Highway 93 when traveling north and south in the Bitterroot Valley.

But you may want to check out the East Side Highway (MT 269) while you are here.

This secondary highway passes through the towns of Corvallis and Stevensville, and traverses some of the beautiful historic farms and ranches of the Bitterroot Valley.

The views of the Bitterroot Mountains from this east side vantage point are some of the best in the area.

Magruder Corridor

This 101 mile primitive road winds through a vast undeveloped area.

The Corridor is much the same today as it was when used by the Nez Perce Indians and other early travelers.

Turn off the West Fork Road at mile marker 15 onto the Nez Perce Road to access the Magruder Corridor road.

Do some research ahead of time and plan your drive carefully as this road heads way back into the wilderness.

The West Fork Ranger station on the West Fork Road is a great resource for more information.

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Skalkaho Road

Head east from Hamilton on MT 38 for an adventurous drive over Skalkaho Pass.

Not for the faint of heart, this 45 mile drive climbs up and over the Sapphire Mountains and ends in Philipsburg, MT.

Take in Skalkaho Falls, then stop in and try your luck mining for gemstones at Gem Mountain before having lunch in “P-burg”.

Some opt to take the “long way around” on the way back. This route takes you through Missoula, MT before returning to the Bitterroot Valley from the north on Highway 93.