There's nothing quite like a scenic drive in Montana. With an area of 147,040 square miles, Montana is the fourth largest state in the United States, offering a near-endless expanse of open roads and scenic panoramas. While Montana is home to some truly beautiful highways and byways, our state also has its share of scary and all-out dangerous drives. Even the best drivers in the Last Best Place should proceed with caution around the steep corners and sharp curves found on the following drives. These six roads have been ranked as some the most dangerous drives in Montana:
1. MacDonald Pass
This historic mountain pass is located west of Helena, crossing over the Continental Divide. And while it's a beautiful drive, it's not without its sharp corners and steep cliffs. In the wintertime, the pass can get pretty icy.
2. Going-to-the-Sun Road
Going-to-the-Sun Road is one of Montana's most breathtaking drives, but it can be pretty harrowing. It's windy, elevated, and often misty at the top. If you're scared of heights, leave the driving to someone else.
3. Highway 93
Highway 93 stretches from the Canadian border straight through Missoula, and it certainly doesn't seem scary. But between the 3,000 annual wildlife related crashes reported every year and the motorists who drive entirely too fast, it's one of our state's deadliest highways. Pay careful attention to the 20-mile stretch between the 90 and 110 mileposts, which studies have shown to have the highest concentration of deer, elk, and bears.
4. Sheep Mountain Road
Located in Park County, this is one of the highest roads in Montana. And since it's a gravel road, it's rocky and bumpy, often impassable during the winter. While dangerous, Sheep Mountain Road is also one of the state's most scenic routes!
5. Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway
If you're scared of heights or unpaved mountain roads aren't your strong suit, you may want to avoid this scenic byway, especially in the winter. Traveling the length of the Pioneer Mountain Range is wonderfully scenic, but conditions can be dangerous at times -- so proceed with caution!
6. Highway 191
In the summer months, taking 191 from Bozeman down to West Yellowstone (or vice versa) is breathtaking. But during the winter, it has been called an icy gauntlet of death and a lethal poster child for growth in the West. Hundreds of people have been injured (or worse) in car accidents here.
Have you tackled any of these most dangerous drives in Montana before? The Treasure State may have some winding, treacherous roads, but it also has plenty of peaceful and beautiful drives, like these scenic byways.
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