Lolo Pass to Powell Ranger Station — Clearwater High Divide Road
Lewis and Clark's nightmare route — still not easy.
US-12 is the highway. Forest Road 369 and its connecting spurs are the real road. From Lolo Pass on the Idaho-Montana border, this network drops south and west along the upper Selway drainage toward Powell Ranger Station — one of the most isolated USFS outposts in the Lower 48. The Clearwater National Forest up here is dense lodgepole and subalpine fir broken by creek crossings and avalanche meadows. Lewis and Clark stumbled through this specific country starving in September 1805 — the Bitterroots nearly killed the Corps of Discovery. The terrain hasn’t softened. At elevation, snow lingers through June and returns by October, and the roads aren’t maintained past basic passability.
Difficulty is moderate to difficult depending on season and snowpack — early-season runners will hit mud so deep it ends trips. A high-clearance 4WD with aggressive all-terrains handles it well into summer; lockers aren’t required but traction control won’t save you in wet clay. Powell Ranger Station has a small lodge and gas — the only fuel in roughly 100 miles of this corridor — so plan accordingly. Dispersed camping is legal throughout the Clearwater and the fishing in the nearby Lochsa River is exceptional. No permit needed for road travel. Best from July through September. Cell coverage: effectively zero from the pass until you approach Kooskia.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Moderate |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel |
| Features | Camping, Historic, Remote, Scenic, Water Crossings |
| Length (miles) | 34 mi / 54.7 km |
| Duration | 1-2 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 5233 ft |
| Best season | July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD |
| Nearest town | Kooskia, ID |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Clearwater National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Official sources | fs.usda.gov |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
| Copy both for Google Maps directionsClick to copy the directions URL · or open it directly in a new tab | |
| Find on Google | Search on Google → |
Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle this trail, or does it need a lift?
A stock high-clearance 4WD like a Tacoma or 4Runner can run this trail. Lifted rigs have more margin on the rougher sections, but the moderate rating holds — you don't need a build to get through.
When does the Clearwater High Divide Road actually open after winter?
Snow lingers at elevation here well into summer. July is the realistic open window — June access is hit or miss. The trail closes back down with early fall snowfall, so September is your hard cutoff.
Do you need a permit to drive or camp on this route?
No permit required to drive the route. Dispersed camping under Clearwater National Forest rules is free and no reservation needed — follow Leave No Trace and stay 200 feet from water sources.
What's the hardest section and what makes it difficult?
The roughest terrain is along the high divide itself where the road narrows, gets loose, and has off-camber shelf sections with limited room to maneuver. Nothing technically extreme, but a lapse in attention on an exposed edge will ruin your day fast.
Is there any water or fuel along the route, or do I need to plan for a full 34 miles self-supported?
There are no gas stations between Lolo Pass and Powell Ranger Station — top off in Missoula or Kooskia before you head in. Water is available from streams along the route but treat everything; the crossings are real and some are seasonal so crossing depth varies by how early in summer you run it.
Trail track
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