Distinctly Montana Magazine

w w w . d i s t i n c t l y m o n t a n a . c o m 71 This loop can be shortened by ap- proximately 22 miles, if desired, by taking Montana Highway 294 from its junction with US-12, near Martin- sdale, west to its terminus at US-89, just north of Ringling. This option brings travelers closer to the Crazies than US-12, which skirts the north- ern flanks of the Castle Mountains en route to White Sulphur Springs. Two areas on the segment of US-89 described above warrant further discussion. Junctions with ranch access roads, located near mile marker 31, create unmarked pull- outs that afford the rare opportunity to savor panoramic views of three Montana mountain ranges simultaneously: the Crazies to the east, Bridger Mountains to the west, and Ab- sarokas to the south. Points of access to the Shields River Road, which penetrates the west side of the Crazies, and the Bridger Canyon Road (Montana Highway 86), which connects Wilsall and Bozeman, are located just north of Wilsall. Bridger Canyon Road, a 31-mile-long sce- nic drive that is fully paved, can be integrat- ed, with modification to the route described above, or traveled as part of a separate, much shorter loop, one that follows US-89 south to Clyde Park and, from there, Brackett Creek Road west to its junction with Montana 86. Bridger Canyon Road provides ex- cellent views of the Bridger Range and, if traversed from west to east, the Crazies. Motorists should be aware, however, that this route's starting point in Bozeman is some- what difficult to find. Views are especially picturesque in autumn, when aspens in the Bridger Range become ablaze with color. For visitors who place a premi- um on solitude, a 40-mile backcountry drive, one that consists primarily of graveled roads, provides views of the northern Crazies that are superior to those afforded by US-191. This route exits US-12 near Two Dot and crosses the Musselshell soon thereafter. At the sev- en-mile mark, a spur road heads west, then south, toward the base of the Crazy Moun- tains, thus facilitating unsurpassed views of this rugged range. The main road takes a southerly course past Lebo Lake, then turns due west toward the Crazies and loops around Porcupine Butte, before its final, eastward ap- proach to Melville. Big Timber Canyon and Cottonwood Creek roads provide access, respectively, to the most heavily utilized trails on the east and west sides of the Crazy Mountains. Big Timber Canyon Road starts 11.2 miles north of Big Timber at its junction with US-191. Follow Information on off-the-beaten-path destinations Information on off-the-beaten-path destinations HAS NEVER BEEN MORE VALUABLE, ESPECIALLY TO SOLITUDE-SEEKING TRAVELERS. CRAZY MOUNTAINS

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