Posted in Montana Nature October 14, 2016 by

Add This Scenic Drive To Your Montana Bucket List Right Away

By mid-October, much of Montana has already seen its first snowfall… and this year is no exception. But we’ve still got a little time to travel before winter weather really gets in the way, so beat winter cabin fever before it starts by going on one final scenic drive of the season. The nearly 400 mile Montana Scenic Loop is a perfect choice.

Google Maps
This loop circles the largest stretch of wilderness in the continental United States.
Jocelyn Catterson / Flickr
That includes four national forests, the Bob Marshall Wilderness, Great Bear Wilderness, Scapegoat Wilderness and the Blackfeet Indian Reservation.
The route was designed to promote sustainable tourism through Montana’s wild country.
Robert Lz / Flickr
You’ll see 15 rural communities along the way, each of them off the beaten path.
The scenery simply can’t be beat.
Michael Lusk / Flickr
You’ll see sweeping mountains, rolling hills, dense forests and shimmering lakes.
You can start your journey in Helena, Great Falls or Missoula.
J. Stephen Conn / Flickr
To get the full loop in, try starting and ending your trip in Lincoln.
You’ll see Augusta, Choteau, Bynum, Dupuyer, Browning, East Glacier, Essex, Hungry Horse, Columbia Falls, Bigfork, Condon, Seeley Lake (pictured here) and Ovando on your way.
Micah Sheldon / Flickr
Stop in as many of these charming communities as you’d like.
Many stretches of the loop are wide open, and you may not see another car for miles.
Tim Gage / Flickr
But you’re also never far from another small town.

Montana’s scenic loop is a beautiful drive. It takes about seven hours from beginning to end, so you may want to allow a full weekend for it so you can explore. Here are some other beautiful scenic byways in the Treasure State.