Sherman Saddle — Lolo Motorway FR 500 High Ridgeline Viewpoint

Sherman Saddle sits along Forest Road 500 near the midpoint of the Lolo Motorway and is one of the few spots where the dense lodgepole breaks and the terrain opens up into wide, unobstructed views. To the south you’re staring into the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness; to the north the drainage rolls toward the Lochsa. This is a documented stopping point on the historic Lewis and Clark route — the Corps of Discovery traveled this ridgeline in September 1805 and nearly starved doing it. That context hits different when you’re standing on the edge looking into the wilderness below.

The road here is rough two-track — high-clearance 4WD required, especially after rain when the clay surface turns greasy. No services, no reliable water. Carry everything you need. Snow can persist into late June at this elevation, and the road can close abruptly in early fall. Check current conditions with the Clearwater National Forest before heading up.

Ridgeline views into Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness.