Glacier National Park too Crowded? Come to this Small Town

The Bitterroot Valley

My brother and I were born and raised here, and this is where we started this tour of Western Montana.

Some of our favorite spots in the Valley:

Missoula

If you’re going to head up into the Yaak Valley, this is going to be one of your last big stops that has a Walmart, Dealerships, and all of the resources that comes with a big city. Double check your gear, and if you need any camping gear stop at the REI before you head out of town.

Don’t forget to say hello to my friends at Montgomery Distillery and grab a Montana Made Cocktail in their tasting room. Then go on up to Double Front Cafe and have some of the best fried chicken in town.

HWY200

A wonderful and underrated Motorcycle Road in Western Montana. Flowing along the Clark Fork River from Ravalli to Noxon and into Idaho.

Some great stops along this route:

  • Garden of 1000 Buddhas in Arlee

  • National Bison Range outside of Dixon

  • Quinn’s Hot Springs Resort

YAAK VALLEY

This amazing area is known as Montana’s only Rainforest, and has thousands of acres of roadless wilderness. If you’re looking for “wild” in Montana, this is the place to start.

Some great stops along

  • Ross Creek Cedars

  • Yaak Falls Overlook

  • Shameless Oasis (our go to for lodging on this trip)

  • Explore the Tiny town of Yaak, Montana.

If you plan on camping in the Yaak Valley, make sure you review information about camping and hiking in Bear Active Areas. Northwest Montana has the highest concentration of Grizzlies in the lower 48 states.

We used HipCamp to book our stay at the Shameless Oasis, if you’ve never used HipCamp before here’s a $10 Credit to Hipcamp (this is my friend invite code, if you use this I get a $10 credit back)

The Route on NF-92 to Rexford Montana is a beautiful paved mountain forest road that is clear in middle of summer, but watch for wildlife.

Otherwise you can take South Fork Road from Yaak to Libby Montana, which is an equally fun twisty route through the forest.

LIBBY

A great small town, that’s known as the gateway to Lake Koocanusa for a reason. If you plan on riding one or both sides of the Lake you’ll want to make a plan for food and gas. Libby and Rexford are your only options for fuel and food around the lake.

  • The Black Board Bistro (by far the BEST Food)

  • Scavenger Hunt for the over 40 Eagle Sculptures around town

  • Evergreen Motel

  • The Kootenai Suspension Bridge and Falls



Amanda Zito