Clark Fork Scenic Drive

The Clark Fork Scenic Drive is a 30-mile drive in the canyon of the Clark Fork River across a section of Lolo National Forest in the Coeur d'Alene Mountains. You'll find spacious, rolling flats and steep canyon walls as the road meanders through the canyon, criss-crossing the river several times. From the I-90, this route on Montana Highway 135 is also a bit of a short-cut to the National Bison Range, Flathead Lake and Glacier National Park.

The Clark Fork River in this area is an excellent fishing stream, and whitewater rafters and kayakers like the river's action a lot, too. As this is the Lolo National Forest, hiking, mountain biking, horseback riding, backpacking, camping and other recreational opportunities are around every bend in the road. In the winter, this area is a Mecca for snowmobilers and back country skiers alike. In your journey, you may see some of the elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer or even bighorn sheep that live in these woods.

Note: The Clark Fork Scenic Drive was formerly known as the St. Regis-Paradise Scenic Byway.

Area map of the Clarks Fork Scenic Drive
Upper photo courtesy of K. Armstrong, via Byways.org
Map courtesy of National Geographic Topo!