Scenic Drives USA

The Saint Regis to Paradise scenic byway is located in western Montana about 70 miles northwest of Missoula. It is 22 miles long and follows MT 135 from Saint Regis to the junction with MT 200. The state highway is a two-lane paved road safe for travel by all types of vehicles. It usually remains open year-round but winter driving requires extra caution.

Originally a meandering trail used by homesteaders in the late 1800s, the Saint Regis to Paradise scenic byway is now a pleasurable drive along the scenic Clark Fork River. It travels through the flat, forested Dolan Flats into the canyon walls of the Clark Fork River, which divides the Coeur d’Alene and Cabinet Mountain ranges. Elk, deer, and bighorn sheep inhabit the canyon region and the heavily forested mountains surrounding the route. Bald eagles are occasionally seen, especially during fall and winter months.

Clark Fork River provides excellent opportunities for those interested in fishing or rafting. The river rapids are of varying levels of difficulty, offering a challenging float trip for all skill levels. If you’re not interested in rafting, there are numerous spots where you can enjoy a lunch while watching others float on the river.

Those interested in camping will find only one national forest campground along the byway. Cascade Campground has ten sites that can accommodate recreational vehicles up to 22 feet long. The campground is open from mid-May to the end of October. Other facilities available include drinking water, restrooms, a boat ramp, and hiking trail.

About 25 miles east of the northern end of the byway is the 19,000-acre National Bison Range. This natural grassland area was established in 1908 to protect one of the most important remaining herds of American bison. About 400 of these shaggy animals roam the land. Self-guided auto tours are available year-round. A visitor center provides more information on the bison and the area. Other wildlife in the area includes white-tailed deer, mule deer, bighorn sheep, and pronghorn.

Garnet Range is approximately 30 miles east of Missoula in western Montana. It begins south of Greenough on MT 200 and travels east to the area of Reynolds City ghost town. The byway is 12 miles long and follows Garnet Range Road, which is accessible by car in good weather from May through October. From January through April, the route is marked and groomed as a National Winter Recreation Trail for snowmobile use and cross-country skiing.

From MT 200, the Garnet Range scenic byway climbs 2,000 feet into the evergreen forest of the Garnet Mountains and offers spectacular views of the Mission, Rattlesnake, Swan, and Sapphire mountain ranges. The byway provides access to one of the best-preserved ghost towns remaining in Montana, the gold mining town of Garnet.

The town of Garnet grew around a stamp mill erected in 1895 by Dr. Armistead Mitchell. Soon after the mill was constructed, Sam Ritchey hit a rich vein of ore in his mine just west of town. The rush was on. By early 1898, nearly 1,000 people resided in Garnet. After 1900 the gold, however, became scarce and difficult to mine. By 1905 many of the mines were abandoned and Garnet’s population shrunk to 150. Fire in 1912 destroyed much of the town and the advent of World War I in 1914 drew most of the remaining residents away to defense-related jobs. By the 1920s, Garnet had become a ghost town.

The Garnet Range byway is part of a 55-mile system of snowmobile and cross-country ski trails. A visitor center is located in Garnet and offers more detailed information on the town and the recreational opportunities found in the area. During winter, there are two cabins in Garnet that are available for rent.