About the Trail

About the Bitterroot Trail

The Bitterroot Trail is a 50-mile journey through the heart of Western Montana, connecting Missoula, Hamilton and the charming small towns nestled between. As you ride alongside the breathtaking Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains, you’ll discover the perfect blend of history, adventure, and small-town charm.

Bringing the Bitterroot Trail to life was no small feat. For decades, local communities poured their hearts into creating a safe, off-highway route linking Missoula to Hamilton. While the section from Lolo to Hamilton slowly came together through Route 93 highway improvements, the 8-mile stretch from Missoula to Lolo remained a formidable challenge due to funding constraints, tricky terrain, and narrow, winding curves.

But in 2016, a federal TIGER (Transportation Investment Generating Economic Recovery) grant changed everything, allowing the completion of the Missoula-to-Lolo link and uniting the entire trail.

Missoula County has continued its support from 2017 to 2023, funding portable toilet installations between Missoula and Lolo, as well as at the Florence underpass. Then, in early 2024, the Bitterroot Trail Preservation Alliance (BTPA) joined the Montana Department of Transportation’s Adopt-a-Highway program, adopting the stretch from Lolo Creek to north of Trader Brothers. With a grant from Missoula County’s Rural Micro Grant Program, BTPA acquired clean-up tools to keep both the trail and the highway shoulders spotless.

Thanks to the unwavering support from Missoula County and the Bitterroot Trail Preservation Alliance, the Bitterroot Trail remains a well-maintained, multi-use pathway that invites locals and visitors alike to explore the natural beauty and welcoming spirit of the Bitterroot Valley.