By editor
Libby Area
The extreme northwest corner of Montana is a dense, wet, heavily timbered landscape that feels more like the Pacific Northwest than the Rocky Mountains. While there is singletrack to be found, the true draw here for cyclists is the staggering volume of Forest Service roads. The Kootenai National Forest contains over 7,800 miles of roads, including more than 4,200 miles of Maintenance Level 1 roads—routes that are officially closed to motorized traffic but entirely open to bicycles.
Riding here is an exercise in solitude and self-reliance. You can link together massive, multi-day gravel and mountain bike loops through the Purcell Mountains, the Salish Mountains, and along the approaches to the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness. The riding consists of long, grinding climbs on abandoned logging grades, followed by fast, sweeping descents through cedar and hemlock forests. Bear spray and offline navigation are mandatory, as cell service is non-existent.
Must-Ride Experience: Linking the closed ML1 roads around the Ten Lakes Scenic Area provides a profound backcountry endurance ride right on the Canadian border.
Visitor Access
- Total Mileage: 7,800+ miles of Forest Service Roads
- Difficulty: Intermediate to Advanced (Endurance/Gravel)
- Season: June through October
Confirm current trail conditions, seasonal closures, and land-manager rules before you ride. Carry bear spray on remote and alpine routes.