Snow sometimes comes early in Montana, especially around Glacier National Park. But there’s still time this season to take a nice, relaxing scenic drive in the area. And should you choose to cruise down North Fork Road, you’ll be driving on pavement (and gravel) that’s on the National Register of Historic Places.
The North Fork is located in the northwest corner of Glacier National Park, reached only by private vehicle on unpaved roads.
kingcidtravels/YouTube The road takes you from the Polebridge area to Kintla and Bowman Lakes, with plenty to see along the way.
The road dates back to 1901.
kingcidtravels/YouTube The Butte Oil Company constructed a rough wagon road from Lake McDonald to its oil well at Kintla Lake, which led to more development of the North Fork region.
The National Park Service developed the road a lot from 1935-1945, adding culverts and drains.
kingcidtravels/YouTube The road now extends about 40 miles, almost reaching the Canadian border.
Despite the relatively short length of the road, you’ll want to allow plenty of time to stop and take in the sights.
kingcidtravels/YouTube Pack a lunch and make sure you have a full tank of gas, because there are no services along this historic road… and don’t count on getting cell service, either. This is a place to disconnect.
You never know what you’ll see on this journey.
kingcidtravels/YouTube
If you can’t make it to Glacier’s North Fork Road anytime soon, you can follow along on this journey posts by YouTube user kingcidtravels:
kingcidtravels/YouTube
The road takes you from the Polebridge area to Kintla and Bowman Lakes, with plenty to see along the way.
The Butte Oil Company constructed a rough wagon road from Lake McDonald to its oil well at Kintla Lake, which led to more development of the North Fork region.
The road now extends about 40 miles, almost reaching the Canadian border.
Pack a lunch and make sure you have a full tank of gas, because there are no services along this historic road… and don’t count on getting cell service, either. This is a place to disconnect.
There’s nothing like a nice, quiet drive down one of Montana’s country roads.
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