Bike Routes
Motorcycle Routes
Iron Riders 1,900-mile route – Missoula, MT to St. Louis, MO
Buffalo Soldiers Iron Riders Gathering - Local Bicycle Routes
The following cycling routes have been provided by the bicycle touring organization, BIKEternity. All routes start and endat Fort Missoula except for the first route that shows how to get to the fort from the Holiday Inn Missoula Downtownhotel. The routes are available through the platform and app, RideWithGPS. The routes can be loaded into a phone appor a GPS device. No support is provided for these rides and BIKEternity assumes no responsibility for riders on theseroutes. These are provided as “on your own” activities to explore the area on bike.
Holiday Inn to Fort Missoula Museum (10 miles)
An easy out and back route from the Holiday Inn Downtown Missoulato the Fort Missoula Museum. Allows for easy riding, easy access toFort Missoula. Family friendly.
RideWithGPS route: ridewithgps.com/routes/38927817
Missoula Bike Trail Loop (18-24 miles)
Beginning and ending at Fort Missoula, this easy riding loop will takeyou along some rural roads and along bike trails. Several ice creamshops can be found along the route that meanders along the ClarkFork and Bitterroot rivers, past the University of Montana andthrough some Missoula neighborhoods. Missoula is super bikefriendly.
RideWithGPS route : ridewithgps.com/routes/38927950
Fort Missoula to Fort Fizzle (27 miles)
The Bitterroot Bike Trail runs 50 miles from Missoula, Montana toHamilton, Montana. In 1877, the US Army erected a temporarymilitary base at what is known as Fort Fizzle. There is now a park,information center, and hiking trails at Fort Fizzle. The route providedis a 27-mile round trip for Fort Missoula to Fort Fizzle in Lolo,Montana using the Bitterroot Bike trail. Riders can also continuedown the Bitterroot Bike Trail if they desire a longer ride (the trailgoes south as far as Hamilton, MT).
RideWithGPS route: ridewithgps.com/routes/38927554
Clinton Rivers Route (46 miles)
This out and back route includes a small portion of the Iron Ridersroute before continuing on the I-90 frontage road from Bonner toClinton and back. You would be riding parallel to the Montana RailLink railroad tracks (the BNSF line). Although it is on the interstatefrontage road it is not heavily traveled and provides for miles of goodcycling along the railroad and the Clark Fork River. Food can be had atthe ½ point of this ride in the small town of Clinton.
RideWithGPS route: ridewithgps.com/routes/38927612
Frenchtown-Huson Loop (56 miles)
Using some bike trail, but mostly rural Montana roads, this route is aloop route from Fort Missoula west to Frenchtown and Huson,Montana. Route can be shortened by 10 miles by skipping the Husonsection which is on a bike trail.
RideWithGPS route : ridewithgps.com/routes/38927747
Lubrecht Experimental Forest (70 miles)
Riding along the approximate route of the Iron Riders, this out andback route travels along the Clark Fork and Blackfoot Rivers. Theturnaround spot is the Lubrecht Experimental Forest, an outdoorclassroom managed by the College of Forestry and Conservation atthe University of Montana. There is a shorter 58-mile turnaround onthis route at a locally famous convenience store.
RideWithGPS route: ridewithgps.com/routes/38927679
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Want To Rent A Bike In Missoula?
Spotted Dog Cycles
(406) 529-0668
www.spotteddogcycles.com/rentals
Bicycle Hanger
(406) 728-9537
www.bicycle-hangar.com/articles/bike-rentals-pg148.htm
The Cycling House
(406) 312-5770
thecyclinghouse.com/missoula-montana-bike-rentals/
3 day minimum rental
Iron Riders 1,900-mile route – Missoula, MT to St. Louis, MO
Professional adventure cyclist, Erick Cedeño, alsoknown as the Bicycle Nomad, will be retracing thepath the original Iron Riders took in 1897. Erick willbe leaving Fort Missoula at 5:40 am on June 14th,the exact time the Iron Riders left 125 years earlier.He will be arriving to St. Louis, MO 41 days later, onJuly 24th. Follow his journey on his Instagramaccount, @bicycle_nomad
BUFFALO SOLDIER IRON RIDER MOTORCYCLE ROUTES
1897 Iron Riders Route – POKER RUN
MT Highways 200, 141, 279 – approx. 200 miles roundtrip
Riding on the approximate route of the Iron Riders first few days of their 1,900-mile journey,this route travels along the Blackfoot River and over the Continental Divide. Turn off Highway200 to Highway 141 and travel through rural Montana before meeting up with Highway 12 atAvon. Ride over MacDonald Pass into Helena, home of Fort Harrison, and enjoy manyrestaurant and brewery options in their historic downtown. Head back west, this time takingHighway 279 over Flesher Pass. Travel back along Highway 200 back to Missoula.
POKER RUN - Thursday, June 16th - Anytime between 9 am and 5:30 pm Stop at the 5 locations below to get your cards and end your ride at Grizzly Harley Davidson. Winning poker hand gets a prize!
Poker Run locations:
1. Trixi's Antler Saloon (opens at 11 am) 4520 MT-200, Ovando, MT 59854
2. Visit Helena (opens at 9 am) 105 Reeders Alley, Helena, MT 59601
3. Wheel Inn Tavern (opens at 11 am) 123 MT-200, Lincoln, MT 59639
4. Kettlehouse Brewing - Bonner (opens at 2pm) 605 Cold Smoke Ave, Bonner, MT 59823
5. Grizzly Harley Davidson 5106 E Harrier, Missoula, MT 59808
You don't need to go in order - just make sure you stop at all 5 locations to get 5 cards. End at Grizzly Harley Davidson to turn in your poker hand.
Other points of interest: Montana Military Museum – Helena, MT
Sculpture in the Wild – Lincoln, MT
25th Infantry In The BitterrootMT Highways 93 And 12 – Approx. 90 Miles Roundtrip
In July of 1877, prior to the arrival of the 25th Infantry, the US Army erected a temporary military barricade in the Bitterroot Valley intending to intercept the Nez Perce as they fled north to Canada. There was no engagement as the tribe skirted around the regiment’s encampment and thus it was dubbed Fort Fizzle. There is now a park, information center, and hiking trails at Fort Fizzle. Continue west on Highway 12 and enjoy the beautiful West Fork of Lolo Creek and watch for moose. After just under 30 miles and you will reach Lolo Pass on the Montana/Idaho border. Stop in at the visitor center at the pass and for an added adventure, drive west behind the visitor center along a dirt road to see the Camas bloom (a blue wildflower), which usually peaks in mid-June. This area is also steeped in the history of the Lewis and Clark Trail, and you can stop at Travelers’ Rest State Park in Lolo, MT to learn more about the area’s history.
Points of interest:
Travelers’ Rest State Park – Lolo, MT
Fort Fizzle Historic Site Picnic Area
The Jack Saloon
Lolo Hot Springs
Lolo Pass Visitor Center
Iron Riders First Training RideMT Highways 93 and 35 - approx. 160 miles roundtrip
In the summer of 1896, the 25th Infantry Bicycle Corps embarked on their first training ride north to McDonald Lake in the Mission Mountains. Lieutenant Moss led 6 men on a 126-mile roundtrip ride, which took them 4 days to complete. Retrace their path as you ride on Highway 93 north through the Flathead Reservation with stunning views of the Mission Mountains. You can turn off the highway for a visit to McDonald Lake, where the Corps camped, but note it is 5 miles on a dirt road and you will need a Flathead Reservation Use Permit. Continuing north you will arrive at the south shore of Flathead Lake, the largest freshwater lake west of the Mississippi River. You can loop around the entirety of the lake following Highway 93 along the west side or Highway 35 on the east. Stop in Bigfork at the north end of the lake for a meal or visit one of the three state parks on the lake for a picnic.
Points of Interest:
Garden of 1,000 Buddhas – Arlee, MT
St. Ignatius Mission – St. Ignatius, MT
McDonald Lake – Flathead Reservation, MT
Ninepipe National Wildlife Refuge
Ninepipes Museum of Early Montana – Allentown, MT
Bigfork, MT
Wayfarers State Park – Bigfork, MT
West Shore State Park – Lakeside, MT
Big Arm State Park – Big Arm, MT
Buffalo Soldiers in Wallace, ID
MT Highways 93, 200,135 & Interstate 90 – Approx. 260 miles roundtrip
Explore Wallace, ID, where Buffalo Soldiers from both Fort Missoula and later Spokane’s Fort Wright in Spokane, WA participated in restoring order during the 1890s mining wars, as well as help rescue local townsfolk from the Great Fire of 1910. Montana Highways 93, 200 and 135 make for a scenic, 2 lane ride following the Flathead and Clark Fork Rivers. After a huckleberry milkshake in St. Regis, MT jump on Interstate 90 for the remaining 45 miles to Wallace, ID to explore one of only 4 cities in the US that is entirely listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Take Interstate 90 all the way back to Missoula or travel back the way you came
Points of Interest:
Garden of 1,000 Buddhas – Arlee, MT
50,000 Silver Dollar Inn, Restaurant & Gift Shop – Haugan, MT
Lookout Pass Recreation Area & Hiawatha Bike Trail
Wallace District Mining Museum – Wallace, ID
Oasis Bordello Museum – Wallace, ID
Northern Pacific Railroad Depot Museum – Wallace, ID
Join us in Wallace on Friday, June 17th for museum tours and the dedication of the BuffaloSoldiers interpretive sign. See Wallace Trip for full schedule.
NEED TO RENT A MOTORCYCLE?
EagleRider Motorcycle Rental Programhttps://www.eaglerider.com/missoula
