Backcountry Discovery Route – Montana Section 4

Montana’s Section 4 of the Backcountry Discovery Route cuts a legendary path from Dillon through the Tobacco Root Mountains, across the Big Hole Valley, and over the Continental Divide near Bannack. This 300-mile beast throws everything at you – from boulder-strewn creek crossings in Ramshorn Gulch to the technical shelf road descent into the Pioneer Mountains. The route passes through Bannack State Park, Montana’s first territorial capital and one of the best-preserved ghost towns in the West, where 60 original buildings tell the story of the 1860s gold rush.

This is serious backcountry requiring high-clearance 4WD with skid plates and recovery gear. Multiple water crossings, rocky technical sections, and exposed alpine traverses demand respect and preparation. Best tackled June through September when snow clears the high passes. Fuel up in Dillon and carry extra water – services are 100+ miles apart. The payoff is pure Montana wilderness, world-class dispersed camping, and some of the most remote country you’ll find on four wheels.