Miracle of America Museum | Andy Austin

STOPS:

• 1Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge
• 2Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana
• 3Three Chiefs Cultural Center
• 4Miracle of America Museum
• 5Flathead Lake

After landing at Missoula Montana Airport (MSO), pick up your rental motorcycle at Grizzly Harley-Davidson and begin your Western Montana ride north on U.S. Highway 93.

Within the first hour, you’ll reach Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge and Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana. The museum showcases a collection of early photographs, artifacts and antiques that tell the story of more than a century of life in the Flathead Valley and on the Flathead Indian Reservation.

Continue north to the town of Pablo and stop at the Three Chiefs Cultural Center to explore the rich cultural heritage of the Salish, Pend d’Oreille and Kootenai tribes. The exhibit gallery and gift shop highlight American Indian heritage, natural history and cultural interpretation.

As you descend into Polson, sweeping views of Flathead Lake—the largest natural freshwater lake in the West—unfold before you. Be sure to visit the Miracle of America Museum, home to an impressive collection of vintage motorcycles, including a 1917 Harley-Davison Racer and a 1941 Indian 4 Cylinder.

Follow State Highway 35 along the east side of Flathead Lake for scenic riding and panoramic lake views. Pull over at one of the roadside fruit stands for some fresh, locally grown Flathead cherries.

Overnight in Bigfork.

Alternate Route: Missoula to Bigfork via the Seeley Swan Valley (State Highway 83). This 154-mile ride winds through thick pine forests, mountain lakes and welcoming small towns, offering plenty of scenic spots to pause and explore. To the east the jagged peaks of the Bob Marshall Wilderness rise dramatically; to the west, the eastern face of the Mission Mountains completes the view.

Looking Glass Highway

STOPS:

• 6Glacier National Park
• 7Going-to-the-Sun Road
• 8Two Medicine Valley

Head out of Bigfork (via highways 35 and 206) to West Glacier.

At West Glacier you will begin your ride over the famous Going-to-the-Sun Road in Glacier National Park. If you see nothing else in the state of Montana, this 50-mile-long road that takes travelers through the heart of the park is a must. Along the way you’ll see glacial-carved valleys, jagged peaks and pristine wilderness.

Designated as a National Historic Landmark in 1997, the road is as beautiful as it is challenging. Small shoulders, sharp turns and dramatic climbs to Logan Pass (6,646 feet) make this a route for experienced riders.

Please note, vehicle reservations are required to enter the park during peak season, even for motorcycles. Learn more here.

Optional add-on: From Glacier National Park, drive north across the Canadian border (passport required) to visit the Waterton-Glacier International Peace Park. Established in 1932, it was the world’s first international peace park, created to commemorate the bonds of peace and friendship between the U.S. and Canada. The conjoined park is a United Nations World Heritage Site. Check out the beautiful Prince of Wales Hotel, a rustic, grand hotel built in 1927.

After a stop at the Park Café in St. Mary for pie, head south on U.S. Highway 89. Take the cut-off road between Kiowa and East Glacier Park (State Highway 49) for unforgettable views into the Two Medicine Valley. Continue west to check out historic Glacier Park Lodge in East Glacier Park. Built in 1912 by the Great Northern Railroad the lodge is nestled at the foot of Dancing Lady Mountain. Grab dinner at Serrano’s Mexican Restaurant—it’s definitely worth a stop. Continue east on U.S. Highway 2 to Whitefish.

Optional add-on: Ride to East Glacier Park via Browning, the largest community on the Blackfeet Indian Reservation. Browning attractions include the Museum of the Plains Indian and the Lodgepole Gallery.

Overnight in Whitefish. Don’t miss The Great Northern, a local-favorite bar. And for breakfast, fuel up at The Buffalo Café or Loula’s.

Libby Dam + Lake Koocanusa | Andy Austin

STOPS:

• 9Eureka
• 10Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway
• 11Libby Dam
• 12Yaak and the Dirty Shame Saloon
• 13Kootenai Falls
• 14Trout Creek

Head north on US-93 to Eureka, just five minutes from the Canadian border. If you’re up for a stop, step back in time at the Tobacco Valley Historical Village, where 10 preserved structures from the 1880s to 1920s tell the story of homesteader life. Highlights include a general store, schoolhouse, hand-hewn log house, railway depot, caboose and fire tower.

Ride through Rexford to Lake Koocanusa, a 90-mile-long reservoir behind Libby Dam. 50 miles of this reservoir lies in the U.S. and the other 40 miles in Canada. The roads on either side of the lake make a wonderful riding loop with great views of both sides of the lake. This loop, through the forest along State Highway 37 and the Forest Development Road (FDR) 228, was designated a Scenic Byway in 1992. The lake cuts a narrow fjord-like gorge between the Purcell Mountains and the Salish Mountains.

From Libby, the Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway (Forest Development Road No. 228) travels around the west side of the lake and is a more leisurely, two-lane, paved route. Plus, you’ll pass through some of the most scenic wild roads in the northwest. This is heavily forested terrain with an abundance of wildlife. Visit Libby Dam and its visitor center to check out their exhibit area, book/gift sales area and auditorium featuring films about the dam and the Columbia River System.

Follow Highway 567 to Yaak, Montana’s northwesternmost town. Drop by the infamous bar “The Dirty Shame Saloon” and the Yaak Mercantile. Check out scenic Yaak Falls, cascading down in a narrow mountain valley, making a great photo opportunity.

When Highway 567 meets Highway 2, ride toward Kootenai Falls, located between Libby and Troy at milepost 21. The Kootenai River enters a canyon and flows over Kootenai Falls, one of the largest free-flowing waterfalls in the northwest. The falls and surrounding area are considered sacred to the Kootenai Indians whose ancestors inhabited the region. A forest trail leads from the highway parking lot down to the swinging bridge and makes a nice, easy hike. Fun Fact: Kootenai Falls was a filming location for the movies “The River Wild” and “The Revenant.”

Take State Highway 56 through the Cabinet Mountain Wilderness area and check out Ross Creek Cedar Grove. Home to an ancient forest of western red cedars, many of the trees are hundreds of years old and are more than eight feet in diameter. An interpretive walking tour, slightly less than 1 mile in length, explains the area’s ecology and history.

Note: Ross Creek Cedars will be temporarily closed April to September 2025 for scheduled maintenance.

Ride toward Noxon where State Highway 56 hits State Highway 200. Noxon is located along the Clark Fork River in a densely forested mountainous area. Although the area was developed as a result of logging and mining, it is renowned for hunting and huckleberries.

Continue on through Trout Creek for an overnight in Thompson Falls. Thompson Falls, established in 1885 during the gold and silver mining era, sits in a quiet valley along the beautiful Clark Fork River.

Hot Springs

STOPS:

• 15Hot Springs
• 16Smokejumper Visitor Center
• 17Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Visitor Center
• 18Caras Park
• 19Downtown Missoula

Take MT-200 to Plains, turn onto State Highway 28 and ride to Elmo, on the western shore of Flathead Lake.

You’ll want to take a short side trip off MT-28 to explore the town of Hot Springs, established in 1910, it is named for the natural mineral springs that still bubble up today. Stop by Symes Hot Springs Hotel for a relaxing soak and Fergie’s Pub to round out the experience.

Head south on US-93 to Missoula.

While in Missoula, visit the Smokejumper Visitor Center. As the largest active smokejumper base in the nation, the center provides a glimpse into the world of wildland firefighters who parachute into remote wilderness areas to combat wildfires. Tour the training facility, see the gear room where smokejumpers prepare their jumpsuits and parachutes, and walk through the ready room where jumpers await deployment at a moment’s notice.

A bit further down the road, stop in at The Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Visitor Center, and learn about elk conservation and the protection of public lands. Explore interactive exhibits about elk behavior, habitat, and the importance of land stewardship. Life-sized elk mounts—including impressive trophy bulls—give you an up-close look at these iconic animals.

Grab a bite at one of downtown Missoula’s many local eateries, then head to Caras Park for views of the Clark Fork River. Just steps away, you’ll spot Brennan’s Wave—a man-made whitewater play area where kayakers test their skills.

RESOURCES:
Montana safety information: mdt.mt.gov/visionzero/plans/motorcycle.shtml
Road reports: mdt.mt.gov/travinfo and 511mt.net
Glaciers to Geysers Motorcycle Guide: glacierstogeysers.com/motorcycling