Distinctly Montana Magazine

D I S T I N C T LY M O N TA N A • FA L L 2 0 1 6 6 PHILIPSBURG FLINT CRK ANACONDA, mt DISCOVERY SKI AREA Georgetown Lake fairmont hot springs resort GRANITE PINTLER SCENIC HIGHWAY ANACONDA TO DRUMMOND to Mi€oula to BU„E INTERSTATE 90 DRU…OND, MT HWY 1 PINTLER SCENIC HiGHWAY DRUMMOND to ANACONDA Presents FALL 2016 DISTANCE: 64 MILES ROAD: 2 LANE, PAVED First Rule: Don't take the Interstate. The Pintler Scenic Bypass was once called Montana Highway 1, and it may just be the #1 bypass in America, well-worth the detour no matter how many times you have driven it. Pull your wheels off that truck-filled monotony of I-90, starting in either Drummond or Anaconda, and course your ride through some of the most beautiful country in Montana, conveniently looping you back to the interstate with little loss of time, but a big gain in scenic beauty and pure joy. You will never lose a better hour of additional drive time. Let's start from the Anaconda end, where you will wonder for the first nine miles why you bothered to take this route. Right after Anaconda you will understand, as you gas your auto up-up-up from the valley floor through forest and mountain-scapes topping out at shores of silvery Georgetown Lake, the Anaconda Range stretched across the horizon and Discovery Ski Area tucked in just off the roadway. Past the lake, wind down through Flint Creek Canyon to Philipsburg (worth a fun stop!) and continue along twisty Flint Creek for another 26 scenic miles to sleepy Drummond, known for a fine rodeo and a bull- shipper rally (another story). After Drummond, re-enter I-90 and continue on your journey…or you might just be tempted to turn around and take it all in again. WOW FACTOR: GEORGETOWN LAKE, PHILIPSBURG, GRANITE GHOST TOWN (SHORT DETOUR) DON'T FORGET: TO WATCH OUT FOR VEHICLE-WILDLIFE COLLISIONS, ESPECIALLY DEER, BIGHORN SHEEP AND THOSE VERY LARGE MOOSE NEAR GEORGETOWN LAKE. LOOK UP FOR GOLDEN AND BALD EAGLES (BUT NOT WHILE DRIVING). Contact us for area maps, AAA TourBook Guides and hotel reservations. Call 877-340-8137 Click AAA.com/Travel or stop by a local branch. AAA MOUNTAINWEST & GREAT MONTANA DRIVES PHILIPSBURG FLINT CRK ANACONDA, mt DISCOVERY SKI AREA Georgetown Lake fairmont hot springs resort GRANITE PINTLER SCENIC HIGHWAY ANACONDA TO DRUMMOND to Mi€oula to BU„E INTERSTATE 90 DRU…OND, MT HWY 1 PINTLER SCENIC HiGHWAY DRUMMOND to ANACONDA Presents FALL 2016 DISTANCE: 64 MILES ROAD: 2 LANE, PAVED First Rule: Don't take the Interstate. The Pintler Scenic Bypass was once called Montana Highway 1, and it may just be the #1 bypass in America, well-worth the detour no matter how many times you have driven it. Pull your wheels off that truck-filled monotony of I-90, starting in either Drummond or Anaconda, and course your ride through some of the most beautiful country in Montana, conveniently looping you back to the interstate with little loss of time, but a big gain in scenic beauty and pure joy. You will never lose a better hour of additional drive time. Let's start from the Anaconda end, where you will wonder for the first nine miles why you bothered to take this route. Right after Anaconda you will understand, as you gas your auto up-up-up from the valley floor through forest and mountain-scapes topping out at shores of silvery Georgetown Lake, the Anaconda Range stretched across the horizon and Discovery Ski Area tucked in just off the roadway. Past the lake, wind down through Flint Creek Canyon to Philipsburg (worth a fun stop!) and continue along twisty Flint Creek for another 26 scenic miles to sleepy Drummond, known for a fine rodeo and a bull- shipper rally (another story). After Drummond, re-enter I-90 and continue on your journey…or you might just be tempted to turn around and take it all in again. WOW FACTOR: GEORGETOWN LAKE, PHILIPSBURG, GRANITE GHOST TOWN (SHORT DETOUR) DON'T FORGET: TO WATCH OUT FOR VEHICLE-WILDLIFE COLLISIONS, ESPECIALLY DEER, BIGHORN SHEEP AND THOSE VERY LARGE MOOSE NEAR GEORGETOWN LAKE. LOOK UP FOR GOLDEN AND BALD EAGLES (BUT NOT WHILE DRIVING). Contact us for area maps, AAA TourBook Guides and hotel reservations. Call 877-340-8137 Click AAA.com/Travel or stop by a local branch. AAA MOUNTAINWEST & GREAT MONTANA DRIVES AAA_9.5x11.375.indd 1 9/6/16 9:43 AM

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