Hidden Gems, Backcountry Routes, and Sturgis Connections from Red Lodge (Rider's Guide Part 2 of 3)
**TLDR:** This guide reveals lesser-known motorcycle routes including MT-78 and the Stillwater loop, Paradise Valley wildlife corridor, Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, and adventure riding options like the Montana Backcountry Discovery Route launching in 2026. Learn why Red Lodge positions perfectly for scenic Sturgis approaches through the Bighorn Mountains and Devils Tower. Complete route descriptions for both paved and unpaved options cater to street bikes and adventure motorcycles.
Welcome back. In Part 1, we covered the epic passes that make Red Lodge legendary: the Beartooth Highway, Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, the Bighorn crossings, and Going-to-the-Sun Road for those building statewide tours.
Now let's talk about the roads that don't make the "Top 10 Motorcycle Routes" lists but probably should.
Because here's the thing about building a Montana motorcycle tour around Red Lodge: the famous roads are spectacular, but they're also crowded with people who read the same blog posts you did. The hidden gems are where you rediscover why you started riding in the first place—less traffic, more soul, and the satisfaction of finding something most people miss.
We're also covering the backcountry ADV routes for dual-sport riders, how Red Lodge positions you perfectly for scenic approaches to Sturgis, and the lesser-known paved gems that deliver as much satisfaction as the headline roads with a fraction of the tourists.
This is Part 2 of our complete Red Lodge motorcycle guide. If you skipped Part 1, go back and read about the Beartooth and other epic passes first. If you're here because you want the roads nobody talks about, you're in exactly the right place.
Let's explore what happens when you venture beyond the obvious.
What Are the Best Hidden Motorcycle Roads Near Red Lodge?
Lesser-known excellent rides near Red Lodge include MT-78 north to Columbus with the Stillwater River loop, Paradise Valley (US-89) for wildlife viewing and hot springs, the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway near Wise River, and the Big Hole Valley with its Nez Perce historical connections. These routes offer outstanding scenery with significantly less traffic than the Beartooth Highway.
MT-78 and the Stillwater Loop: Your Quiet Day Option
Red Lodge to Columbus via MT-78, Plus the Absarokee-Nye Loop
This is the ride you take when you want mountain views and flowing pavement without fighting tourist traffic or testing your altitude tolerance.
What Is MT-78?
MT-78 runs north from Red Lodge approximately 45 miles to Columbus, Montana, offering mountain-backed scenery, gentle curves, and access to the Stillwater River corridor. The route provides an excellent half-day or relaxed full-day ride with multiple loop options and authentic Montana rural stops.
Why Ride MT-78?
Because sometimes you want to ride without constantly managing a camera or overthinking every corner. MT-78 delivers exactly that: good pavement, pleasant scenery, and the kind of rhythmic riding where you can settle in and just enjoy being on a motorcycle.
From Red Lodge, roll north with the Beartooth Range as your backdrop. Pass through Absarokee (fuel available) and continue to Columbus where you'll find full services including Town Pump for fuel and food.
What Is the Stillwater River Loop?
Add the Absarokee to Nye loop for a scenic extension along the Stillwater River. Nye Trading Post is a classic rural Montana stop with fuel and that end-of-the-pavement vibe every rider appreciates. The loop brings you back through countryside that feels timeless and unhurried.
Total distance for the MT-78 plus Stillwater loop runs roughly 100-120 miles depending on your exact route, making it a perfect half-day ride or leisurely full day with lunch stops.
Fuel Notes: Cenex Zip Trip in Red Lodge, stops in Absarokee, Town Pump in Columbus, and Nye Trading Post with gas on the Stillwater loop.
Paradise Valley: Wildlife, Hot Springs, and Yellowstone's Back Door
US-89: Livingston to Gardiner / Yellowstone North Entrance
Paradise Valley delivers exactly what its name promises: 53 miles of broad valley riding along the Yellowstone River with mountain ranges on both sides, abundant wildlife, and hot spring options for the travel-weary.
What Makes Paradise Valley Special for Riders?
This is big-sky, big-valley riding without technical demands. The pavement is excellent. The scenery is expansive. And the wildlife viewing rivals anything in Yellowstone proper without the park traffic.
Elk, pronghorn, deer, and occasionally bears are common sightings along US-89. The Yellowstone River parallels much of the route, providing water access and riparian corridors that concentrate animals.
Hot springs options (Chico Hot Springs being the most famous) offer excellent post-ride soaking if you're building a full day around the valley.
How Do I Combine Paradise Valley with Red Lodge Riding?
The classic move: ride Paradise Valley north to south, enter Yellowstone at the North Entrance near Gardiner, traverse the park through Lamar Valley (wildlife central), exit via the Northeast Entrance at Cooke City, and return to Red Lodge via the Beartooth Highway.
This creates a spectacular loop that includes valley riding, park wildlife viewing, and the Beartooth descent—all in one day if you start early and move efficiently.
For a quieter return from Livingston, consider East River Road (Route 540) which parallels US-89 with less traffic and a more rural feel.
What About Yellowstone Road Access?
The Gardiner to Cooke City road inside Yellowstone is generally the only road open year-round to regular vehicles (weather permitting), though "year-round" comes with significant caveats for winter conditions. During summer operating season (typically late May through early November), this corridor provides reliable access for the Paradise Valley to Beartooth connection.
Always check Yellowstone National Park's current road status before planning park segments into your ride.
Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway: Paved Perfection in Southwest Montana
Wise River to Polaris/Dillon Area
If you're building a multi-day tour that swings west from Red Lodge, the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway delivers approximately 49 miles of paved mountain riding that feels like a secret even though it's well-signed.
What Is the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway?
This designated scenic byway runs through the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, following creeks and climbing through mountain terrain with excellent pavement, minimal traffic, and side-trip options including Crystal Park (rockhounding), Elkhorn Hot Springs, and Jackson Hot Springs.
Why Ride the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway?
Because after days of high-intensity alpine passes and technical riding, sometimes you need a reset day that's still on two wheels. The Pioneer Byway offers relaxed, scenic cruising without demanding constant focus on elevation, exposure, or switchback precision.
The route provides that perfect mid-tour pace: engaging enough to stay interesting, mellow enough to actually relax and enjoy the ride. Creek-side pavement, mountain backdrops, and the kind of Montana scenery that doesn't require 10,000 feet of elevation to be spectacular.
Plan 2 to 3 hours with stops, though the hot springs options can easily extend this into a full-day adventure if you're willing to pause for soaking.
Fuel: Available in Wise River and Dillon. Nothing mid-route. Top off before you start.
How Does the Pioneer Byway Connect to Red Lodge?
Use this as the western arc of a statewide loop: Red Lodge → Paradise Valley → Bozeman/Butte → Pioneer Byway → Big Hole Valley → back toward Red Lodge via various routing options.
This keeps your tour varied: epic alpine passes (Beartooth), broad valley corridors (Paradise), relaxed scenic byways (Pioneer), and historical depth (Big Hole).
Big Hole Valley and the Nez Perce Story
MT-43 and Big Hole National Battlefield
If you're riding the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, the Big Hole Valley sits just beyond, offering both scenic riding and powerful historical connection.
Big Hole National Battlefield near Wisdom commemorates the 1877 battle between the U.S. Army and the Nez Perce (Nimíipuu) during their attempted flight to Canada. The site provides interpretation of this tragic chapter in Western history and the remarkable journey of Chief Joseph and his people.
Adding Big Hole to your tour adds historical depth that makes the riding more meaningful. This isn't just scenery. It's landscape shaped by human stories worth understanding.
What Backcountry ADV Routes Are Near Red Lodge?
Red Lodge provides access to multiple adventure/dual-sport routes including the Montana Backcountry Discovery Route (launching 2026), Gravelly Range Road (high-altitude gravel traverse), Skalkaho Pass (mixed-surface mountain crossing), and Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range (BLM backcountry). These routes require appropriate bikes, experience, and preparation.
Montana Backcountry Discovery Route: Coming 2026
What We Know Now
The Montana Backcountry Discovery Route is scheduled to launch in February 2026, promising approximately 1,000 miles through 10+ mountain ranges connecting small towns and backcountry via classic BDR-style route design.
Final route details, maps, GPS tracks, and film premiere information will publish at launch. Keep checking the official RideBDR website for updates, section breakdowns, and downloadable tracks when they become available.
How Does Red Lodge Connect to the MTBDR?
While the published route isn't finalized yet, BDR routes typically connect fuel and lodging hubs via gravel and forest roads. Red Lodge sits in proven motorcycle country with extensive USFS road networks in the Custer Gallatin National Forest, making it a logical staging point for side loops or transitions to/from the MTBDR corridor once the route goes live.
Think of Red Lodge as your paved-road basecamp with easy pivots to adventure riding when the MTBDR launches. You can run the Beartooth and Chief Joseph on street bikes, then swap to your adventure rig for MTBDR sections, all from the same town.
Use RideBDR's route updates page and GPS download hub when the Montana route publishes in 2026.
Gravelly Range Road: High-Country Gravel Traverse
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
For experienced ADV riders comfortable with remote, high-elevation gravel riding, Gravelly Range Road delivers wildflower meadows, massive horizons, and that top-of-the-world solitude that makes adventure riding addictive.
What Is Gravelly Range Road?
A high-country gravel traverse above the Madison Valley, typically opening July 1 and running until fall snows close access. The route crosses exposed ridgeline with no services, demanding self-sufficiency, high-clearance capability, and comfort with technical gravel riding at altitude.
Why Ride Gravelly Range Road?
Because some of the best views in Montana require leaving pavement and accepting that your bike will get dirty. Gravelly Range offers that alpine-meadow riding where you can see for 50 miles and the only sounds are wind and your engine.
This isn't beginner ADV territory. Plan for variable surface conditions, exposure to weather, zero services on the ridge, and the need to be mechanically self-sufficient. Bring tools, tubes, tire repair kit, extra fuel, water, and food.
Check with the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest's Madison Ranger District for current conditions before attempting Gravelly Range Road.
How Do I Access Gravelly Range from Red Lodge?
Use paved transfers via US-89, I-90, and MT-41 corridors to stage from Ennis or Alder. This fits naturally into western-arc multi-day tours that include the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway and Big Hole Valley.
Skalkaho Pass: Sapphire Mountain Shortcut
MT-38: Hamilton to Philipsburg (Mixed Surface)
Skalkaho Pass offers narrow mountain riding between Hamilton and Philipsburg with Skalkaho Falls, minimal traffic, and old-Montana character. This is adventure-touring or dual-sport territory due to gravel sections and seasonal restrictions.
When Is Skalkaho Pass Open?
MT-38 appears on Montana's seasonally closed roads list (typically MP 14-38 closed in winter). The pass generally opens in late spring and stays accessible through early fall. Always verify current status on Montana 511 before committing to Skalkaho.
Expect gravel segments, narrow curves, and limited shoulders. High-clearance helps. Standard street bikes can manage in good conditions, but adventure bikes or dual-sports are more appropriate for variable surfaces.
What Makes Skalkaho Worth Riding?
Because it feels like riding through Montana as it existed 50 years ago: remote, unhurried, and genuinely backcountry despite being a maintained road. The falls provide a worthy photo stop, and tiny campgrounds dot the route for those building multi-day ADV itineraries.
No services mid-route. Bring tools, tubes, water, and mechanical self-reliance.
How Does Skalkaho Connect to Red Lodge Tours?
Skalkaho fits naturally into western Montana routing if your tour swings through Philipsburg or the Bitterroot Valley. From Red Lodge, this becomes a component of week-long statewide loops rather than a day trip.
Pryor Mountains Wild Horse Range: BLM Backcountry
South of Bridger, Montana
For dual-sport riders seeking genuinely wild country with the bonus of potential wild horse sightings, the Pryor Mountains deliver stark, wind-carved landscapes and technical riding on BLM and Forest Service land.
What Are the Pryor Mountains?
A wind-sculpted range south of Bridger featuring exposed ridges, deep canyons, and one of America's wild horse herds. Routes like Crooked Creek Road climb steeply to high benches with variable conditions demanding conservative riding and solid off-pavement skills.
How Do I Ride the Pryor Mountains Responsibly?
Coordinate with BLM and USFS maps to identify legal motorized routes. Not all trails allow motorcycles. Respect closures, stay on designated roads, and understand that this is genuine backcountry with limited services and significant remoteness.
Conditions vary dramatically by season and recent weather. Go prepared for mechanical issues, carry more water than you think necessary, and let someone know your planned route and return time.
How Do Red Lodge and Sturgis Connect?
Red Lodge sits approximately 275-300 miles from Sturgis, South Dakota, via direct Interstate routing. However, scenic routing through the Beartooth Highway, Chief Joseph Scenic Byway, and Bighorn Mountain crossings extends distance while dramatically improving the riding experience. Red Lodge serves as an ideal pre-Sturgis basecamp for riders wanting epic passes before the rally chaos.
Why Stop in Red Lodge Before Sturgis?
Because arriving at Sturgis after two days of epic alpine passes beats arriving after 600 miles of Interstate slab. You roll into the Black Hills with stories and photos from the Beartooth and Bighorns instead of just... arriving.
Sturgis itself typically runs in early August (check the City of Sturgis website for annual dates). Planning a Red Lodge stop before the rally lets you:
Conquer the Beartooth and Chief Joseph before rally crowds
Cross the Bighorns on your way east with fresh legs
Arrive at Sturgis having already completed bucket-list riding
Skip the monotony of Interstate miles for most of your approach
What Are the Best Scenic Routes from Red Lodge to Sturgis?
Route 1: The Bighorn Classic
Red Lodge → Beartooth Highway → Chief Joseph Scenic Byway → Cody → WY-120 south → Greybull → US-14 or 14A over the Bighorns → Sheridan → I-90 east → Sturgis.
This routing delivers the full Montana-Wyoming riding experience: alpine drama (Beartooth), flowing pavement (Chief Joseph), serious mountain crossing (Bighorns), and minimal Interstate until the final push to Sturgis.
Note: US-14A features sustained 10%+ grades. If you prefer gentler crossings, choose US-14 or US-16 instead.
Route 2: The Devils Tower Detour
From Sheridan or Gillette, angle southeast to Devils Tower National Monument (sacred site; plan parking during peak season) before continuing to Sturgis and the Black Hills.
Devils Tower adds geological wonder and cultural significance to your approach. Just remember this is a sacred site for multiple Indigenous nations—visit respectfully and follow park guidelines.
How Long Does the Scenic Route Take?
Direct Interstate routing runs roughly 275-300 miles and can be covered in one long day. The scenic routes above extend distance significantly but transform the journey from transportation into the actual vacation.
Plan at least two days (preferably three or more) for the scenic approach, allowing time to actually ride the passes instead of just checking boxes.
What's Coming in Part 3?
We've covered the epic passes (Part 1) and the hidden gems plus backcountry options (Part 2). Now we need to talk about the practical logistics that separate good tours from great ones.
Part 3 covers Red Lodge as your basecamp: where to fuel, eat, and wrench in town; how to check road conditions and plan around weather; wildlife etiquette for riding through Yellowstone; altitude and surface realities; the Beartooth Rally & Iron Horse Rodeo culture; and complete sample itineraries for 3-day, 5-day, and 7-day tours.
Because knowing where to ride is only half the equation. Knowing how to plan, prepare, and execute a Montana motorcycle tour from Red Lodge basecamp is what turns routes into memories.
Planning your Montana motorcycle adventure? The Yodeler offers secure bike parking, gear storage, and rider-friendly amenities in the heart of Red Lodge. Book your room and start building the tour that'll define your riding season.