Cabinet Mountains Scotchman Peak Mining Road

This challenging 16-mile route follows old copper mining roads up the east face of Scotchman Peak, the highest summit in Montana’s Cabinet Mountains. Starting from Highway 200 near Clark Fork, the track climbs through dense cedar forest before breaking into alpine terrain above 6,000 feet. The final push to Scotchman Peak involves technical rock crawling through loose talus and exposed shelf road with thousand-foot drops.

Difficult terrain requiring high clearance 4WD with low range and aggressive tires. Multiple washouts and rockslides demand constant spotting, and weather changes rapidly above treeline. Best accessed August through October when snow clears. No permits needed but expect zero cell coverage and carry emergency supplies. The summit rewards drivers with 360-degree views from Glacier National Park to the Selkirk Range and pristine camping at several alpine lakes.