St Joe River Road - Idaho & Montana
AKA: National Forest Road 50
St. Maries - St. Regis, MT
Distance/Driving time: 103 miles/3h, 4m
County(ies): Benewah, Shoshone
Submit your on this road.
Rider Comments:
- Just did the road this Tuesday (August, 2012). Me on my V-Strom 1000, Conti Attack tires – (not good in deep gravel). My buddy on his Fat Boy (raised an inch and a good rider) his comment on the gravel, "not for beginners". The climb up the Montana side was not fun but doable we both had moments with the deep washboard underneath climb. Tandem trucks hauling ass down the hill. I met one at a blind corner he was using most of the road! Once up top there were construction delays and followed a pilot car for about 10 miles. Once clear of that stuff yes – Awesome Road!!!!!!!! I agree better than Lolo and I enjoyed that. I would suggest go in on the St. Mary’s side, ride to the end of the pavement, and turn around and go back. Would be a great day. Going downhill into Montana would be scary, you could get a truck up your butt. - Anonymous (8/17/12)
- Took this road in August of 2011. We had a HD Roadglide and a Honda ST1300. Wonderful road with very little traffic, we wound up passing only 3 cars from St Maries to St Regis. Very scenic with some deer seen closer to St Maries. Avery, ID was a nice little stop with a great little coffee shop/fly fishing store located right along the river. The gravel starts at the Montana state line, it was hard packed but very dusty. - Anonymous (8/23/11)
- We rode this in August, 2009 on a Road King. Very nice road, beautiful scenery. From the Montana State line, which is the summit, the road was loose gravel. We didn't have any trouble, but we weren't out of first gear either. Be sure and have a full tank before you leave the road along the river, the last fuel was in Avery. - Scott Koopman (2/23/10)
- This route is every bit as good as Lolo Pass.
Better in my opinion as sharper curves, steeper embankments, no traffic, and makes a great Lolo loop.
10 miles or so hardpack gravel heading west from St Regis on I 90, but had no problem at all riding our sportbikes.
Decent pavement the rest of the way to St Maries.
Great connections from there heading N or S to good routes.
- 'BCsnocat' (6/12/09)
Photos - courtesy of 'BCsnocat'
Other Resources:
- Marc's Motorcycle Page - My Favorite Motorcycle Roads