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Roadpath Journeys: Montana
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The National
Northern Tier Route
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The National Northern Tier Route Information
Roadpath Route Requirements:
In the original determination for choosing the roadpath route, the requirements were simple: (1) The roadpath must be a hard surface road; (2) The roadpath must be contiguous across the entire route, (3) The roadpath must not be an Interstate Highway (or any highway which would exclude bicycles) and (4) The roadpath route, in describing the "Northern" and/or "Northernmost" Highways, has as a definition, those highways which remain within the United States nearest to the USA/CAN border without crossing into Canada.
National Northern Tier Route Information
National Roadpath Description:
The Northern Tier route is the northernmost transcontinental roadpath entirely within the United States, which roadpath consists of a series of contiguous highways traverses the extreme northernmost highways within the country.
This contiguous roadpath traverses a distance of 4,872 miles, with the western terminus end at the
Cape Flattery Trailhead in Neah Bay, Washington, a foot path to the northern most lighthouse in Washington and the eastern terminus end at the West Quoddy Head where a lighthouse of the same name is located and this point is the easternmost point in the United States.
National Roadpath Information:
Roadpath Type:
West-East transcontinental route
Roadpath Total Length:
4,872 miles, 7841 km
Roadpath Use:
automobiles, bicycles
Roadpath Year Built:
1926 and/or later
Roadpath Waymark:
current highway signs associated with each roadpath
Roadpath Terminus Point One:
Location West:
Cape Flattery Trailhead Parking Lot, Washington
Coordinates:
48.3849460, -124.7158605
Elevation:
349 feet
Roadpath Terminus Point Two:
Location East:
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse, Maine
Coordinates:
44.8150633, -66.9504890
Elevation:
63 feet
National Roadpath History:
This is a brand new National Scenic Byway, one which has its origin found within my personal desire to travel (as a recreational passage) across the top of the United States. In the fall of 2025, I left the west coast of Washington state headed eastbound on this roadpath with the desire to drive and document the route, recording the specific highways traveled, as well as locations for camping and/or overnighting. I was only able to drive to the state of Minnesota before the temperatures plummeted to near freeze at night, causing me to turn right and drive south to a warmer region (south Texas) for the winter.
Then, in the middle of February 2026, with the temperatures in south Texas soaring into the eighties, I departed my winter hiatus to begin my northbound Journey On™ through North America, traveling east by northeast through the
Interior Lowlands Region, then into the
Appalachian Mountains Region where I turned northeast into and through New England to the eastern terminus of this new National Scenic Byway, is the easternmost point in the lower 48 states, a coastal lighthouse know as
West Quoddy Head Lighthouse located not far from the town of Lubec, Maine, from whence I will begin the logistical eastbound drive of the North Tier Route.
National Roadpath Map:
(m0-maps-us-ntr-map) National Northern Tier Route Map
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The State
Northern Tier Route, Montana
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Northern Tier Route State Section
Description:
State Roadpath Information:
State Roadpath Type:
US and State Highways
State Roadpath Length:
665 miles
State Roadpath Terminuses
Roadpath Terminus Point One:
Location West:
Idaho State Line, State Line Rest Area
Coordinates:
48.6321795, -116.0483584
Elevation:
2.234 feet
Roadpath Terminus Point Two
Location East:
North Dakota State Line
Coordinates:
48.1373662, -104.0453326
Elevation:
2,246 feet
State Roadpath Elevations:
Roadpath Highest Point
Marias Pass Obelisk, Continental Divide
Elevation:
5,229 feet
Coordinates:
48.3176590, -113.3529716
Roadpath Lowest Point:
Idaho State Line
Elevation:
2,234 feet
Coordinates:
48.6332177, -116.0490443
State Geographic Information:
Geographical Region:
Rocky Mountains
Eastern Montana
Geographical Region:
Great Plains
State Roadpath Map:
(m0-maps-ntr-mt-map) Montana Northern Tier Route Map
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The 2026 Journey,
Northern Tier Route, Montana
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The 2025 Journey,
Northern Tier Route
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Eastbound
Leaving Washington state on the nineteenth of September, I began an eastbound passage of the Northern Tier Route, however, I spent a couple of days in Ponderay, Idaho before even entering Montana. And then, when I did arrive in Montana, I was waylaid in the free campsite at Libby Dam, by the need to await for my monthly check to arrive. While I waited, I would go to the meeting at the Libby congregation of Jehovah′s Witnesses on (Day
597 TS) and was blessed with being able to enjoy the visit of a circuit overseer.
(m6fi-ntr-mt-2025-0922.1039) Camping along the Kootenai River
(m6fi-ntr-mt-2025-0922.1042) Three-cup f-meal along the Kootenai River
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The 2020 Journey,
Northern Tier Route
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(Day
721 TG) 58°F. 7:00 am, sunny
Then by eleven today, I pack out, drive north on US 95 through Sandpoint where I connect with the Northern Tier route and continue on this route to Ponderay, Idaho where I stop at the w-mart for lunch and more key pounding.
I find it much cooler here out of the large city and stay here until the late afternoon. When I do leave, I continue driving north on US 95 to Bonners Ferry, then east on US 2 heading east towards Montana along the Kootenay River, cross the time zone, continue along the Kootenai River until I arrive in Libey, Montana.
Here, I depart from the Northern Tier route as well as the Kootenai river and choose to continue on US 2 through the Kootenai NF which is replete with lakes along the highway. For the reason that I began my travel late in the afternoon, I select this shorter route to Kalispell, Montana where I end up after today′s drive.
(Day
724 TG) 52°F. 6:00 am, sunny
After a stay of a couple days in Kalispell to catch up on my website work, I continue east on the Northern Tier Route.
(m6fi-ntr-mt-2020-0814.0919) North of Kalispell, Montana
(m6fi-ntr-mt-2020-0814.0929)
Flathead River north of Kalispell, Montana
Culturally significant for the indigenous tribes of the Kootenai, Pend d′Oreille, and Salish people because it served them for centuries as a travel corridor through the Rocky Mountains enabling them to reach the northern Great Plains to hunt buffalo.
During the early 1800s, Bad Rock canyon was the scene of a violent confrontation involving large numbers of both the Kootenai and the Blackfeet. The Blackfeet crossed the mountains, stole horses and then was going to take them to the North West Fur Company′s trading post, Saleesh House, on the Clark Fork River. The Kootenai won the battle and drove the Blackfeet back over the mountains.
In 1891, the Great Northern Railway built a line through the Bad Rock canyon on the north side of the river because the high canyon walls on the south side of the river were too much of an obstacle. However, the railroad did build a supply road on the south side of the river, but that roadway was build high above the canyon′s floor and when the wagons brought the supplies for the rail workers, the wagons had to be lowered down from the road with ropes tied to trees. The locals thus called the supply road, the Tote Road.
It was not until 1910, when the local county built a new road through Bad Rock Canyon, bypassing the old tote road with a easier to travel road. Then, in 1929, the Bureau of Public Roads built the first modern highway through the canyon.
(m6fi-ntr-mt-2020-0814.0954) Bad Rock Canyon on the Flathead
(m6fi-ntr-mt-2020-0814.0955) Bad Rock Canyon on the Flathead
There is a spring on the south side of the canyon that is used as a water source by many local residents. The spring ceased flowing through the fountain and a plastic pipe was run to a location just to the east of the fountain.
A sign atop the old stone fountain states: Shepard Memorial Fountain, Dedicated to the memory of Lion Don Shepard. Shepard was from Kalispell (1833-1905).
(m6fi-ntr-mt-2020-0814.1004) Bad Rock Canyon on the Flathead
Glacier NP
This journey, I stopped at Apgar picnic area to cook a pot of my repast and to enjoy a refreshing swim in Lake MacDonald.
Methinks that the park was the most crowded that I have every seen it, so I did not stay too long. but continued eastward on US 2 along the Middle Fork of the Flathead river.
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The 2018 Journey,
Northern Tier Route
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(m6fi-ntr-mt-2018-0624.1812) Bad Rock Canyon, Pipe Spring
(m6fi-ntr-mt-2018-0624.1816) Bad Rock Canyon, Pipe Spring
Stopping at
Glacier National Park, I find a good location to stealth camp. The next morning, I drive to Sprague Campgound picnic area and prepare a meal. Then, I pack out and continue my drive east on the Northern Tier route, still on US 2.
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This Page Last Updated: 30 June 2026
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