Bitterroot Valley

US-93

Today in Montana History

Route Overview

Follow the Bitterroot River south from Missoula through small towns backed by the dramatic Bitterroot Range.

Distance

75 mi

Elevation Range

3,200–4,300 ft

Difficulty

easy

Season

Year-round

Start

End

Interactive Map

Hot SpringsCampgroundsHiking TrailsRecreationRoute

Points of Interest

114 points of interest along the Bitterroot Valley corridor.

♨️ Hot Springs (2)

Sleeping Child Hot Springs

★★★★ 4.0 (25 reviews)

6 mi from route

Blue Joint Hot Springs

8.2 mi from route

⛺ Campgrounds (9)

Charles Waters Campground

★★★★½ 4.6 (100 reviews)

2.7 mi from route

Spring Gulch Campground

★★★★½ 4.6 (39 reviews)

6.6 mi from route

Yellowrock Campground

★★★★ 4.4 (130 reviews)

3.9 mi from route

Blodgett Campground

★★★★ 4.4 (57 reviews)

5.1 mi from route

Granite Peak RV Resort

★★★★ 4.4 (752 reviews)

6 mi from route

US Forest Services Ranger Station

★★★★ 4.2 (13 reviews)

0.2 mi from route

Missoula KOA Holiday

★★★★ 4.0 (1088 reviews)

0.2 mi from route

Angler's Roost RV and Campground

★★★★ 4.0 (248 reviews)

0.8 mi from route

Bitterroot Valley Rv And Campground

★★★ 3.2 (45 reviews)

0.8 mi from route

🥾 Hiking Trails (8)

Kootenai Creek Trailhead

★★★★½ 4.9 (167 reviews)

2.9 mi from route

Coyote Coulee Trailhead

★★★★½ 4.8 (21 reviews)

3.2 mi from route

Trapper Creek Trailhead

★★★★½ 4.8 (5 reviews)

5.2 mi from route

Blue Mountain Trailhead

★★★★½ 4.7 (311 reviews)

2.2 mi from route

Pattee Canyon Trailhead

★★★★½ 4.7 (44 reviews)

5.6 mi from route

Big Creek Trailhead & Picnic Area

★★★★½ 4.6 (14 reviews)

5.2 mi from route

Milltown State Park Overlook

★★★★½ 4.5 (81 reviews)

6.8 mi from route

Goat Mountain Trailhead

★★★★ 4.4 (5 reviews)

3.5 mi from route

🏔️ Recreation (95)

Historic Forest Service Museum

Darby Pioneer Memorial Museum

Fort Owen State Park

0.1 mi from route

Stevensville Historical Museum

0.1 mi from route

Hellgate Meadows Village

0.3 mi from route

Bitterroot Chamber of Commerce

0.6 mi from route

Ravalli County Museum

0.8 mi from route

Marcus Daly Mansion

1.3 mi from route

Missoula Fire Department Memorial

1.5 mi from route

Montana Natural History Center / Five Valleys Land Trust

1.6 mi from route

Vietnam Veterans Memorial

1.6 mi from route

Missoula Law Enforcement Memorial

1.6 mi from route

Korean Veterans Memorial

1.6 mi from route

Travelers Rest State Park

1.6 mi from route

Clark Fork River

1.8 mi from route

Holt Heritage Museum

1.8 mi from route

Victor Heritage Museum

1.8 mi from route

Roosevelt

1.9 mi from route

Bitterroot National Forest

1.9 mi from route

E3 Convergance Gallery

2 mi from route

Historical Museum at Fort Missoula

2 mi from route

Bitterroot River

2 mi from route

Museum of Mountain Flying

2.1 mi from route

Missoula Art Museum

2.2 mi from route

Capt. John Mullan

2.2 mi from route

Arts Missoula

2.3 mi from route

Greenough Park

2.3 mi from route

Lake Como

2.3 mi from route

Stevensville Reservoir

2.4 mi from route

Grizzly Statue

2.5 mi from route

Rams Horn Medicine Tree

2.5 mi from route

Montana Museum of Art and Culture

2.6 mi from route

Shannon Lake

2.6 mi from route

Rattlesnake Graveyard Memorial

3.3 mi from route

National Museum of Forest Service History

3.5 mi from route

Lolo National Forest

4.3 mi from route

Rattlesnake Wilderness

4.7 mi from route

Council Grove State Park

5.3 mi from route

Don Mackey Memorial

5.3 mi from route

Painted Rocks State Park

5.7 mi from route

Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

6.3 mi from route

Tag Alder Lake

6.5 mi from route

McCalla Lake

7.1 mi from route

Baker Lake

7.8 mi from route

Hart Lake

8 mi from route

Gem Lake

8.3 mi from route

Milltown State Park

8.5 mi from route

Canyon Falls

8.6 mi from route

Duffy Lake

8.8 mi from route

Saint Mary Lake

8.8 mi from route

Goat Lake

8.9 mi from route

Holloway Lake

9 mi from route

Canyon Lake

9.1 mi from route

Hauf Lake

9.1 mi from route

Snowbowl

9.4 mi from route

Koch Lake

10.5 mi from route

Boulder Falls

10.7 mi from route

Garrard Lake

10.8 mi from route

Trapper Lake

10.8 mi from route

South Kootenai Lake

10.9 mi from route

Middle Fork Lakes

11.1 mi from route

White Lake

11.1 mi from route

Knaack Lake

11.2 mi from route

Gleason Lake

11.2 mi from route

North Kootenai Lake

11.4 mi from route

Sears Lake

11.4 mi from route

Aichele Lake

11.4 mi from route

Ingormar Lake

12.3 mi from route

Fool Hen Lake

12.3 mi from route

Kneaves Lake

12.6 mi from route

South Fork Lake

12.6 mi from route

Big Creek Lake 1

12.6 mi from route

Bryan Lake

12.7 mi from route

Totem Peak Lake

12.8 mi from route

Pearl Lake

13 mi from route

Hackney Lake

13.2 mi from route

Frenchtown Pond State Park

13.3 mi from route

Sweathouse Falls

13.5 mi from route

Tenmile Lake

13.5 mi from route

North Totem Lake

13.5 mi from route

Piquett Lake

13.6 mi from route

Lockwood Lake

13.8 mi from route

Heinrich Lake

13.9 mi from route

Fred Burr Lake

13.9 mi from route

South Bear Lake

13.9 mi from route

Burnt Fork Lake

13.9 mi from route

Big Creek Lake 2

13.9 mi from route

Slate Lake

13.9 mi from route

Big Creek Lake 4

14.2 mi from route

Twelvemile Lake

14.4 mi from route

Pass Lake

14.4 mi from route

Overwhich Falls

14.7 mi from route

Overwich Falls

14.7 mi from route

Lost Trail Hot Springs

14.8 mi from route

Skalkaho Falls

15 mi from route

Connecting Routes

Routes that connect to the Bitterroot Valley for extended road trip planning.

Highway 200 Corridor

MT-200 · 175 mi

Seeley-Swan Corridor

Skalkaho Highway

Nearby Towns

Towns along or near the Bitterroot Valley route.

Missoula Hamilton

Events along the route

Upcoming and typical events in towns along the Bitterroot Valley.

Rocky Mountain Elk Foundation Big Game Days
July · Missoula
Official info →
Avett Brothers
August · summer amphitheater date · Missoula
Official info →
Fairytale & Superhero Festival
July · Missoula
Official info →
Steve Earle
July · Missoula
Official info →
Missoula Folklore Society Bal Folk Dancing Nights
July · Missoula
Official info →
Post Malone
July · Missoula
Official info →
Jordan Davis
July · Missoula
Official info →
Hard Times Bluegrass Festival
July · Hamilton
Official info →

Browse all Montana events →

Frequently asked questions

How long is the Bitterroot Valley scenic drive?

The Bitterroot Valley covers about 75 miles along US-93, with an elevation range of 3,200–4,300 feet.

What towns are along the Bitterroot Valley?

The route runs from Missoula to Hamilton.

When is the best season to drive the Bitterroot Valley?

Recommended season: Year-round. High-elevation Montana corridors can close in winter; check current road conditions before you go.

How difficult is the Bitterroot Valley drive?

This corridor is rated easy. Use the interactive Backroads Travel Planner to preview the route and nearby points of interest before you leave.

Plan a Multi-Route Trip

Combine the Bitterroot Valley with connecting corridors to build an epic Montana road trip. Our interactive planner covers 13 scenic corridors and 850+ points of interest.

Plan a multi-route trip with our interactive Backroads Travel Planner →

Where to Stay in Missoula

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Where to Stay in Hamilton

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