
A rough 4x4 road to Saddle Mountain in the Bitterroot Range
Usa, north-america
9.5 km
2,526 m
hard
Year-round
Okay, picture this: You're in southwestern Montana, ready for an off-road adventure in the Bitterroot Range. Saddle Mountain Road is calling your name! This unpaved track climbs to a whopping 8,287 feet. You'll need a 4x4 to tackle this one, trust me.
Starting near the bottom, it's about 5.9 miles to the top, gaining 1,430 feet along the way. Expect some seriously steep sections, maxing out around a 9% grade โ hold on tight! The average incline is around 4.58%, so it's a steady climb. Oh, and a heads-up: this road is usually snowed in during the winter months, so plan accordingly. The views? Absolutely incredible. Think rugged mountain scenery as far as the eye can see. Definitely one for the bucket list!
Road Details
- Country
- Usa
- Continent
- north-america
- Length
- 9.5 km
- Max Elevation
- 2,526 m
- Difficulty
- hard
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