Lolo Motorway (aka FS Rd #500)

Trail Overview

The Lolo Motorway(Forest Road 500) is a roughly 95-mile narrow, winding primitive road. The single-lane road, partially built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930, travels close to the Nez Perce Trail. Portions of this road are single-lane, and there are washouts. High clearance 4x4 only, and be prepared for a long day if you are not camping on the trail. This took us over 8 hours to complete. Be prepared for down trees and changing trail conditions. The road is free from ice and snow in mid-July and usually accessible into October. Lewis & Clark followed the Nez Perce Trail across the Bitterroot Mountains in 1805 and returned in 1806. Several stops along the trail contain information on Lewis & Clark's journey. The Nez Perce used the trail to access hunting, fishing, and food-gathering areas. This route includes a 1/2 mile side trip to Rocky Ridge Lake. Please remember a large portion of this trail follows the historical Nez Peace Trail - please pack it in, pack it out, and respect the area.

Photos of Lolo Motorway (aka FS Rd #500)

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Difficulty

There are sections that I would definitely call a trail with washouts, rocks and a section on a single-lane shelf road.

Technical Rating