Western Montana 4x4 trail guide

[Black Rhino 13]

4x4 Routes of Western Montana

This book was just published this winter by an interesting local couple with extensive off-road experience. This is the first 4x4 trails guide for the area around Missoula, MT as far as I know. It covers parts of north-central Idaho too (Magruder Corridor). They include a lot of information, history, GPS info, trail ratings, etc... They're already working on their second book which I believe will focus on the area around Dillon, MT.

Please share this with friends and other sites too.


Back Roads Publications - Home

For anyone who's considering driving the Magruder Corridor at some point, rated as the #1 most remote "road" in the lower 48 states, this book has great mile by mile descriptions with side trips, etc...

 

[Toyote]

Excellent add. Thanks for posting this; I've been looking for some new explorations to do! This looks awesome.

 

[Black Rhino 13]

If you're heading towards ID/MT look up the Lolo Motorway too. It's the path Lewis and Clark followed down from Lolo Pass on the MT/ID border down to the flatlands by Kooskia, ID. Both Magruder Corridor and Lolo Motorway are 100+ mile long unmaintained, single lane dirt mountain "roads".

These areas are just north and south off of U.S. Hwy 12 between Lolo, MT and Kooskia, ID. Magruder starts on one end in Elk CIty, ID and ends just south of Darby, MT. There's an off-road path running north to south to Elk City from what's called "Lowell" on Hwy 12 in Idaho.

This big green area on the map in north/central Idaho is one of the least developed, least populated areas in the lower 48 states. It's also the largest contiguous wilderness area in the lower 48 states, between Elk City and Darby. Only the dividing line between these two National Forests/Wilderness areas is vehicle-legal.

Excellent add. Thanks for posting this; I've been looking for some new explorations to do! This looks awesome.

 

[MontanaLX450]

Wow...thanks a ton for this. I've been looking for a resource on some new trails and adventures around here for a long time. I'll definitely be picking this one up.

 

[Young Bull]

Once the 80 is built and read (whenever that is), I'll have to head over and see some family and make a run with you.

 

[Black Rhino 13]

Wow...thanks a ton for this. I've been looking for a resource on some new trails and adventures around here for a long time. I'll definitely be picking this one up.

No problem. Hey, why don't I know you? You're here?

I bought my copy at the UM bookstore. I hear it's available around town. The guy who owns the map store on Brooks just south of Mount said he might start carrying it. I bought a ton of maps from him. He knows his stuff.

 

[Black Rhino 13]

Once the 80 is built and read (whenever that is), I'll have to head over and see some family and make a run with you.

Totally! And let us know about the family business. When will you be in production of fine beverages? Oh, we're planning a trip through Glacier, across B.C. to get the new bumper in July/Aug, and wife really wants to see the Scablands of central WA. Maybe we can swing by on that trip? PM me or something.

 

[JM43]

4x4 Routes of Western Montana is a great book. Just recently bought it from their web site. Take a look at Back Roads Publications - Home

 

[Black Rhino 13]

Willie is the man in many ways. Here is an opportunity for anyone who wants to work with Willie or contribute to the next book. This is from the minutes from the recent meeting:

.......

Willie again reiterated that he would not be leading any local trails (this summer), as he and Jeanne are concentrating their summer trail time on the Dillon/Melrose Montana area for second book research. They will be camping at the Salmon Fly fishing access at Melrose. For their first trip they'll be leaving on July 6 Friday, and staying through July 15 (so that covers two weekends, if someone would like to come down and run some trails with them).

Here is some more information on the melrose trips -

Our base camp will be at the Salmon fly fishing access/camp ground. There is a minimal fee but can't remember what it is. You camp right next to the river on a grassy area and there is a pit toilet and if I remember right, water. You turn off at the Melrose exit, head west over the RR tracks, then cross the river and the camp ground is off to your left in a short distance. There is a nice motel at the north end of town, that also has cabins, and a RV park. I think that one can take a shower there for a fee but never did check for sure. Yes there is gas in town, most likely at least 10 cents a gallon higher than any other place.

We originally planned to make our first trip in late June, but for a couple of reason we are waiting until July. One, I may be leading a group of people out of California on a local route the weekend of June 23, and secondly this is pretty high country in the 6000 to 9000 ft range and even if the snow is gone, the east side of the highway will have lots of mud on the roads. I hate mud! [Willie sounds like one of us ] The east side is a lot dryer and more desert like than the west side so that is where we will be going first.

We picked being there over weekends so that any one that wants to join us can, or could even stay during the week. You will have to bear with us as we will be making lots of stops to check mileage, GPS readings and make notes of the area as we visit various sites. No dogs please. For one there are lots of mining remains where a dog could really get in trouble, nails, cactus and such.

So let me know if you're interested in joining us, most likely your vehicle or even you may be pictured in the new book.

The most likely dates we will be there are as follows: (that is if Jeanne and I don't kill each other from living in our camper that long).

July 6 - 15
July 23-29
Aug 10-19
Sept. 3-12

Club or non-club members are invited to join us.

............

[So, this is an opportunity to help write a 4x4 book and be immortalized in its pages. See the website in previous posts if you want to contact Willie about this.]