Story by ALLISON PARKER
ROAD WORTH RIDING
Montana’ s U. S. Route 2— From Peaks to Plains in the Treasure State
There are many great motorcycling roads in Montana, but if you want to make the most of a cross-state ride, U. S. Route 2 across the northern part of the state offers the most variety on a single stretch. From the Idaho border on the west side to North Dakota on the east, this road takes riders from Rocky Mountain forests and whitewater rivers to the wide-open plains of Big Sky Country, skirting away from big cities in favor of small towns and communities.
U. S. Route 2 crosses 665 miles through Montana, and much of it follows the Hi-Line railroad. Riding from west to east gives riders immediate sights and mountain riding followed by a final laid-back cruise through the plains. Ride the other direction for a gentle start and rewarding finish.
On the western side of the state, the first stop should be Kootenai Falls. This was the filming site of the waterfall drop scene in the 2015 movie The Revenant, featuring Leonardo DiCaprio as Hugh Glass dropping down the falls
10 / SEPTEMBER 2026 / RIDERMAGAZINE. COM