Lolo Motorway — Lewis and Clark’s War Road Across the Bitterroots
100 miles on the ridge Lewis and Clark barely survived.
In September 1805 the Corps of Discovery staggered across this ridge half-starved and snow-blind. The Lolo Motorway — Forest Road 500 — follows almost exactly that same route along the crest of the Bitterroot Mountains between Powell Ranger Station and Weippe Prairie, Idaho. You run a continuous ridgeline road between 5,000 and 7,000 feet, passing named waypoints the expedition actually camped: Bald Mountain, Sherman Saddle, Indian Post Office — where tribes left stone cairns for centuries before a single white man ever arrived. The road is unmaintained, narrow, and rocky, with sheer drop-offs on both sides and no guard rails. Side trails dead-end on cliff edges. This is not a route you stumble into accidentally.
High-clearance 4WD is required, and a locker or at least a solid limited-slip will earn its keep on the loose shale sections. The motorway is typically open only from late July through September — snow closes it hard at both ends of that window. The nearest fuel and services are in Kooskia or Lowell to the north. There is absolutely no cell service for the entire corridor. Carry extra fuel — the route is well over 100 miles with no resupply. Dispersed camping along the ridge is outstanding. This is one of the most historically significant and genuinely remote overland routes in the lower 48.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Backcountry, High Clearance, Overland Route |
| Surface | Dirt, Gravel, Rock |
| Features | Camping, High Altitude, Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 104 mi / 167.4 km |
| Duration | 2-3 days |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7033 ft |
| Best season | Late July-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with low range |
| Nearest town | Kooskia, ID |
| Land manager | USDA Forest Service — Clearwater National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | No |
| 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
No recent condition reports. Be the first to post one.
Log in to post a condition report.
Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Tacoma or 4Runner handle the Lolo Motorway?
A stock high-clearance 4WD with low range can run it, but you need decent all-terrain tires and real ground clearance — not a crossover or soft-roader. The rocky, rutted sections will punish anything underprepared, and there's no tow truck coming if you snap something.
When does the Lolo Motorway actually open each year?
Late July through September is your window — the Bitterroot ridge holds snow well into summer and can get hammered by early fall storms. Don't assume it's open just because it's July; check current conditions with Clearwater National Forest before you leave.
Do you need a permit to run the Lolo Motorway?
No permit required as of now — it's managed by Clearwater National Forest and dispersed camping is allowed. No fee to drive it, but follow Leave No Trace and be aware that campfire restrictions can go into effect during high fire danger periods in late summer.
What's the hardest section, and what should I actually expect?
The exposed ridge sections with deep ruts, loose rock, and off-camber sidehills are the consistent challenge across the whole route — there's no single crux, it just grinds you down over 104 miles. There are no bail-out roads once you're committed, so a mechanical failure or bad weather means you're sitting on a remote ridgeline with no help coming fast.
How much fuel do I need, and where's the last gas before the trail?
Top off in Kooskia, ID before you start — there is zero fuel on the motorway and you're looking at 104 miles of slow, low-range driving that will burn through a tank. Bring a full auxiliary fuel can; running dry on a remote Bitterroot ridge with no cell service is not a story you want to tell.
Trail track
No GPX track for this trail yet. If you've driven it and have a track, contribute below.
Log in to contribute a GPX track.