Segment 2 Description
The Clearwater and Bitterroot country of central Idaho is particularly remote and rugged. Leaving the Clark Fork Valley from Superior heading south, a well-maintained gravel road climbs 3,000 feet back over the Bitterroot crest into Montana. A 25+ mile descent along the scenic Clearwater River leads to the tiny town of Pierce before 60 tough miles of exposed climbing on active and abandoned logging roads over the Clearwater Mountains before dropping steeply to the Selway River where limited services and numerous campgrounds are available. A 25-mile-long 4,700’ climb with reasonable grades takes riders out of the Selway Valley and toward the incredibly secluded and welcoming community of Elk City. East of there, the infamous and stunning Magruder Corridor and another crossing of the Bitterroot Mountains begin – 90 miles of rough and taxing dirt and 4x4 roads sandwiched between two of the largest Wilderness areas in the Lower 48. Do not underestimate this section – it is demanding, exposed, incredibly wild, and is one of the most remote sections of the entire WWR. Leaving Elk City, it is 125 miles with a whopping 14,000’ of climbing to the hopping and touristy town of Darby, MT. The final 35 miles of that are a paved descent to the end of the segment, some of which riders will retrace if continuing south on Segment 3.
Segment length: 326 miles
Total climbing: 31,000 feet
Recommended number of days: 6-8
% Paved (approx.): 20%
% Dirt road (approx.): 40%
% 4x4 road/2-track (approx.): 40%
% Singletrack (approx.): 0%
% Rideable (approx.): 95%
Average physical difficulty* (1-10): 7
Average technical difficulty** (1-10): 5
Bikepacking challenges: Limited resupply options, very remote, summer heat, grizzly bears are rare in this region.
Longest stretch between resupply (miles/days): 125 miles / 2-3 days
Longest stretch between water sources (miles/days): 40 miles / 1 day
Alternate route options: None
The Clearwater and Bitterroot country of central Idaho is particularly remote and rugged. Leaving the Clark Fork Valley from Superior heading south, a well-maintained gravel road climbs 3,000 feet back over the Bitterroot crest into Montana. A 25+ mile descent along the scenic Clearwater River leads to the tiny town of Pierce before 60 tough miles of exposed climbing on active and abandoned logging roads over the Clearwater Mountains before dropping steeply to the Selway River where limited services and numerous campgrounds are available. A 25-mile-long 4,700’ climb with reasonable grades takes riders out of the Selway Valley and toward the incredibly secluded and welcoming community of Elk City. East of there, the infamous and stunning Magruder Corridor and another crossing of the Bitterroot Mountains begin – 90 miles of rough and taxing dirt and 4x4 roads sandwiched between two of the largest Wilderness areas in the Lower 48. Do not underestimate this section – it is demanding, exposed, incredibly wild, and is one of the most remote sections of the entire WWR. Leaving Elk City, it is 125 miles with a whopping 14,000’ of climbing to the hopping and touristy town of Darby, MT. The final 35 miles of that are a paved descent to the end of the segment, some of which riders will retrace if continuing south on Segment 3.
Segment length: 326 miles
Total climbing: 31,000 feet
Recommended number of days: 6-8
% Paved (approx.): 20%
% Dirt road (approx.): 40%
% 4x4 road/2-track (approx.): 40%
% Singletrack (approx.): 0%
% Rideable (approx.): 95%
Average physical difficulty* (1-10): 7
Average technical difficulty** (1-10): 5
Bikepacking challenges: Limited resupply options, very remote, summer heat, grizzly bears are rare in this region.
Longest stretch between resupply (miles/days): 125 miles / 2-3 days
Longest stretch between water sources (miles/days): 40 miles / 1 day
Alternate route options: None
