Segment 1 Description
Montana and northern Idaho’s lush and densely forested mountains are steep and quiet, and this segment of the WWR meanders from one large valley to the next and through numerous small communities along the way. Leaving the Canadian border, Segment 1 follows a mix of paved and gravel roads through the Tobacco Valley before rolling through forests to a high bridge across Lake Koocanusa. From there, the route climbs into the remote Purcell Mountains on quiet 2-track, eventually tying into maintained forest roads to reach the town of Troy and the Kootenai River Valley. South of Troy, the main WWR follows pavement south to Noxon Reservoir with a jaunt on rougher forest roads over Snake Creek Pass. Mellower paved and gravel miles follow the broad Clark Fork Valley past scattered services. A 3,000-foot climb on rougher forest roads takes riders over the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains at Porcupine Pass and into Idaho. Smoother gravel and pavement bring riders to the rejuvenated mining town turned tourist destination of Wallace. Gravel roads over Moon Pass lead back into the more rugged Bitterroots, past blackened snags burned in the great fires of 1910, and to the popular Route of the Hiawatha Rail Trail. This stunning gravel path follows old trestles and tunnels up and through the Bitterroot crest and back into Montana. The final miles of the segment gradually descend a mix of forest roads, old rail grade, and pavement through small communities of the Clark Fork Valley. Public lands and water sources are abundant on this segment, resupply options are relatively frequent, and with the exception of the Purcell Mountains, this segment is not particularly remote.
Segment length: 304 miles
Total climbing: 25,000 feet
Recommended number of days: 5-7
% Paved (approx.): 30%
% Dirt road (approx.): 50%
% 4x4 road/2-track (approx.): 20%
% Singletrack (approx.): 0%
% Rideable (approx.): 95+%
Average physical difficulty* (1-10): 5
Average technical difficulty** (1-10): 4
Bikepacking challenges: Grizzly bear country between Canada and Wallace, ID (grizzly bears could also be encountered farther south)
Longest stretch between resupply (miles/days): 90 miles / ~1.5 days
Longest stretch between water sources (miles/days): 30 miles – water is abundant
Alternate route options:
Montana and northern Idaho’s lush and densely forested mountains are steep and quiet, and this segment of the WWR meanders from one large valley to the next and through numerous small communities along the way. Leaving the Canadian border, Segment 1 follows a mix of paved and gravel roads through the Tobacco Valley before rolling through forests to a high bridge across Lake Koocanusa. From there, the route climbs into the remote Purcell Mountains on quiet 2-track, eventually tying into maintained forest roads to reach the town of Troy and the Kootenai River Valley. South of Troy, the main WWR follows pavement south to Noxon Reservoir with a jaunt on rougher forest roads over Snake Creek Pass. Mellower paved and gravel miles follow the broad Clark Fork Valley past scattered services. A 3,000-foot climb on rougher forest roads takes riders over the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains at Porcupine Pass and into Idaho. Smoother gravel and pavement bring riders to the rejuvenated mining town turned tourist destination of Wallace. Gravel roads over Moon Pass lead back into the more rugged Bitterroots, past blackened snags burned in the great fires of 1910, and to the popular Route of the Hiawatha Rail Trail. This stunning gravel path follows old trestles and tunnels up and through the Bitterroot crest and back into Montana. The final miles of the segment gradually descend a mix of forest roads, old rail grade, and pavement through small communities of the Clark Fork Valley. Public lands and water sources are abundant on this segment, resupply options are relatively frequent, and with the exception of the Purcell Mountains, this segment is not particularly remote.
Segment length: 304 miles
Total climbing: 25,000 feet
Recommended number of days: 5-7
% Paved (approx.): 30%
% Dirt road (approx.): 50%
% 4x4 road/2-track (approx.): 20%
% Singletrack (approx.): 0%
% Rideable (approx.): 95+%
Average physical difficulty* (1-10): 5
Average technical difficulty** (1-10): 4
Bikepacking challenges: Grizzly bear country between Canada and Wallace, ID (grizzly bears could also be encountered farther south)
Longest stretch between resupply (miles/days): 90 miles / ~1.5 days
Longest stretch between water sources (miles/days): 30 miles – water is abundant
Alternate route options:
- Whitefish Extension: Connects Whitefish to WWR at Canadian border. Whitefish offers all services, numerous bike shops with bike shipping options, and train, bus, and flight options. Shuttle services for cyclists are also available. See “Getting to the Western Wildlands Route” section of route guide. This alternate is 85 miles in length with 2,800’ of climbing. Most of this alternate follows maintained dirt roads, public lands and water sources are abundant.
- Clark Fork Alternate (includes sections of dangerously washed out road): This quieter, more rugged alternate deviates west from the main WWR between Troy and Noxon, MT, climbs over the Cabinet Mountains, and passes through the small community of Clark Fork, ID. The southern half of the alternate follows the Clark Fork River Valley on mostly quiet paved roads, and the northern half climbs 3,500’ over the beautiful and quiet Cabinet Mountains on 4x4 and abandoned paved roads. This alternate is 63 miles long with 5,000’ of climbing (18 miles longer and 3000’ more climbing than the main WWR). Water and public lands are abundant along this alternate. Warning: The road on the western side of the Cabinet Mountains above Clark Fork was severely washed out in several places in 2017 and is dangerous to negotiate with a loaded bike. The USFS has not developed plans to repair the washouts, so this alternate is not currently recommended.
