"Everywhere you look in Montana there is a rich history. We felt like real explorers on our iron steeds as we re-traced parts of the great Lewis and Clark expedition. Sometimes intentional, sometimes by happy accident, we stumbled upon stories and learned about how this incredible state came to be."
Maggie Hicks (@themaggiehicks) and Justin Edelman (@warthogbike) took a two-wheeled tour through Central Montana, trading the beaten path for open roads and living history.
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Rev up your engines: It’s time for a road trip! This central Montana loop takes you through scenic landscapes, inviting small towns and historical landmarks that help to tell the story of how Montana came to be. This route is ideal for motorcyclists but is more than accessible for road trippers of all types. So gear up, and get ready to discover Montana’s heartland.
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Your adventure begins in Dillon, a small community situated in a sweeping valley with panoramic views of the nearby mountains. Here, three rivers drain — the Ruby, Big Hole and Beaverhead — making this a notable stop for all anglers, but especially fly fishers. The Dillon area is also rich in history — nearby Bannack State Park was the site of Montana’s first gold discovery.
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Start the day with coffee and breakfast before exploring Dillon’s eclectic downtown. Before heading out, make sure to stop by Clark’s Lookout State Park to stand in the footsteps of William Clark and imagine the scenery as he saw it more than 200 years ago. Then, head northeast toward Bozeman. There’s plenty to do along the way, with Beaverhead Rock State Park, Lewis & Clark Caverns State Park and Madison Buffalo Jump State Park making great mid-day stops before getting to town. In Bozeman, enjoy perusing the shops and restaurants on Main Street before checking into your accommodations.
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Today, grab a quick breakfast before departing Bozeman for Lewistown — the geographic center of Montana. On your way, stop in Big Timber. Against a backdrop of the dramatic Crazy Mountains, this town is the gateway to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and offers great access to hiking, fishing and camping year-round. While you’re riding through, make sure to stop at the Crazy Mountain Museum to learn more about Big Timber’s history and Two Rivers Gallery to see the work of local artists. For hikers, you won’t want to miss taking a detour to Natural Bridge Falls. Here, the Boulder River flows over the edge of a 100-foot-high cliff, creating a breathtaking natural waterfall. After your forest trek, get back on the road, and you’ll arrive in Lewistown just before dinnertime. Cradled by five surrounding mountain ranges, this agricultural community offers picturesque vistas of expansive rolling prairie framed by peaks. Explore downtown before stopping at your hotel for the evening.
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Ride to Fort Benton to see the place widely recognized as the birthplace of Montana. When it was established in 1846, the fort was the most upstream navigable port on the Missouri River, making it a gateway to the Northwest for traders, miners and settlers. It is the oldest continuously occupied settlement in the state. Here, tour the Museum of the Northern Great Plains to learn about the last 100 years on Montana’s prairies and Old Fort Benton to step back in time to the days of Fort Benton’s fur and buffalo trade. Grab lunch here, and keep traveling south on Montana Highway -89. If you happen to be riding through over Father’s Day weekend, make sure to stop by the Belt PRCA Rodeo to experience rodeo — Montana’s state sport and Western culture — firsthand. This tiny town nestled among the Little Belt Mountains is normally home to just over 500 people, but that number more than doubles during rodeo weekend, as cowboys and spectators from all over the state come to Belt to kick off rodeo season. You’ll end the second-to-last night of your getaway with an overnight stay in Great Falls.
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Stop and pick up some trail snacks, then ride south to Sluice Boxes State Park. Located in the stunning Belt Canyon, this park offers year-round recreation but is best explored in the spring, summer and fall. Spend the first part of the day hiking between the rock formations, then ride on to White Sulphur Springs, where you’ll relax and ease your tired muscles in one of three naturally heated pools at Spa Hot Springs Motel. Enjoy dinner in town and turn in for the night after a week you’ll never forget.
