Other Routes & Tracks

This page presents Tracks and potential alternate Routes along with their descriptions and disclaimers provided by the contributing inmate. Tracks (and waypoints from them) have been collected by a rider using a GPS unit. We use Routes on this page to refer to waypoints generated from maps, unverified at the time they were posted.

1. FleecersRidge.gpx, SW of Butte, Route courtesy of Amazing Ricardo

"I have heard this is a pretty technical track with a lot of elevation and some dodgy areas, I was going to see about crossing it, if I could find fuel resources in the area. BigDog has referenced gas in Wise River, but I have not been able to verify availability, and you have mentioned fuel may be available in Divide. I personally do not know of anyone who has attempted this trail, and I don't know if there is a preference as to running it going north or south. The breadcrumb track i have included is from a mountain bike site and the waypoints are from BigDog's CDT GPS route. (i don't think he attempted the crossing)"

2. pattengail-wisdom.gpx, Pioneer Scenic Byway to Wisdom, Route courtesy of Amazing Ricardo

"This file is of an alternate route I looked at for the MT1000, a route strictly planned from miles away, using only internet resources, and mapsource.

I used various maps including a US Planimetric North-West map (i posted a link on the MT1000 planning thread, https://www.gpsfiledepot.com/maps/view/259/ a MT DOT map, and a MT Topo map (also found on the gpsfiledepot website) and google earth.

This route doesn't particularly look Big Bike friendly, and as you are aware, i/we have not been able to ascertain the viability, or legality of the route. Also there are alternate trails in the vicinity that may be either easier or harder, most of the turns in these locations are marked with a (green dot waypoint) and the atual route is to be determined in the field.

How I came about to research this is; I was looking for alternate routes from the CDT to Darby, as I'll be riding the CDT to and from Colorado to WestFest and i was looking for alternate routes to; add interest, and also eliminate pavement. I'll be riding a Honda 450x to give you an idea of what i think is a capable ride for this route."

3. Dell-Hwy278_Horse607.gpx, Dell, Sheep Creek, Bannack, Hwy 278, Track courtesy of Horse_607, 5/4/2010

This track covers parts of days 5 and 6 of the Montana 1000 captured during a ride. Incorporated in those days' routes 5/04.

Hwy278-Wisdom_Horse607.gpx, Hwy 278, Wise River, Wisdom, Track courtesy of Horse_607, 6/15/2010

This track covers day 6 of the Montana 1000 from just out of Bannack through the Pioneer Scenic Byway to Wisdom.captured during a ride. Incorporated in the day 6 route 5/16.

4. RoadAgentsRock_Horse607.gpx, A possible side trip on Day 6 , Track courtesy of Horse_607, 5/23/2010

Outside of The Bannack Ghost Town, "The 70-mile road to Virginia City was rough and hazardous enough, but road agents popping out from behind Road Agent's Rock made it even riskier for the stage drivers."

Riders can also continue NE on the back roads to Highway 78 and Ten Mile to the Argenta Road, NW to Argenta, a mining town still occupied today. Horse_607 has provided a track out of Bannack, past Road Agent's Rock, passing through Argenta, and looping back to Hwy 278 with MORE DIRT!

5. LincolnToMarysville-v8toilet.gpx, Waypoints from a from Lincoln to Marysville track, , part of Day 2 ride; Track Waypoints courtesy of v8toilet, 5/28/2010

v8 said , "I went Stemple Pass to Marsh Creek down to Marysville. It was a bit rutted and there was lots of cattle but my dad-in-law did it on a 1k Strom with anakees with zero drama. A few tiny water crossings (not really worthy of the name but they might be a bit bigger in July) when you start up Stemple pass. A lot of the area feels like private forested ranch land but nothing was gated and nobody commented on it. I have few crappy photo's. We took it easy and it showed I think it took us 3-4 hours to do that little bit. It could be done really fast but when you don't know where you're going or if a quad is around the corner you take it easy."

6. MarshCr-Boulder_0619_ChadX.gpx, Track and collected by Chadx on 6/19/2010 pre-ride covers, last part of Day 2 ride and first leg of Day 3; Includes Waypoints for possible several camping spots. Posted 06/24/2010.

ChadX said , " The one track is grossly long so will need to be broken into 500 point tracks in order for them to not get truncated on anyone's GPS. It also contains waypoints for potential camp spots, the Wickes Tunnel, and the Old Comet Mining Town."

jjmyzrider, who was also on the pre-ride adds "Chadx and I got out for some scouting. We rode to the Tunnel in Wicks, Ice in first 50 feet or so. I strongly advise not to go through, it has been a cool wet April May and June, it will NOT melt in a month. Lat46*20.207 Long. 112*07.055 is the entrance to it just for your info.

The road from that location to Comet (old ghost town of a past mine) gets a little loose with the rocks. I have no idea what a GS or any other larger bike is like on the loose rocks. So I tell you this as a percaution if you have poor skill or lack confidance I would suggest a alternate route to Jefferson City and over to Boulder. It is nothing Chad or myself thought was in any way difficult or challanging just a little loose is all."

7. Cardwell-Pony-Ennis.gpx, This Track covers the first leg of dirt, part of Day 4 ride collected by MoonDogMT with Horse607 and Jeff. on 06/23/2010. Posted 06/24/2010

A DR650, GS1150 and KTM990 made the trip. We went up the south boulder river road past the IU Geologic station and were not able to follow the original route from North to South Meadow Creeks without backtracking to the east before ascending South Meadow Creek from just west of McAllister. Some of the less travelled tracks are somewhat sandy and we ran into only one slightly boggy spot.

8. MT1000-Day3_Final_Chadx.gpx, This Track has Day 3 + ChadX on 07/12/2010. Posted 07/17/2010

According to ChadX, "It consists of 8 sets of tracks, all less than 500 points. Also contains 10 waypoints with various things like camp spots for the end of Day 02, the wickes tunnel, old mining town in comet, gas in Boulder if you can't make it to Butte, etc. " See https://www.advrider.com/forums/showpost.php?p=13445008&postcount=357 for more details.