The Lolo Pass

Motorcycle Roads & Rides > Routes > United States > Idaho

Average Rating - This road has been rated by 13 visitors

State: Idaho
Date Submitted: September 1, 2004
Submitted by: "JetDoc"
Motorcycle Road Length: 175 Miles

Written Directions

The directions for this route are very straightforward. Simply start in Lewiston, Idaho on US Highway 12 and take it east all the way to Missoula, Montana (or in the reverse if you want to start in Montana). You'll basically be cutting across the entire width of Idaho.

Scenery

This route covers one of the most beautiful sections of the Lewis & Clark Trail as it winds through the Rocky Mountains of Idaho and Montana. As you ride through the Lolo national forest, look for whitewater rafts on the Locsha and Selway rivers. You'll also see numerous steaming hot springs flowing down the hills along the way. Watch out for deer and mountain goats crossing the highway at random intervals.

Road Quality

You have all seen the photos of the sign that says "Curves next 67 miles...This is the road! One of the best motorcycle roads in the country with lots of sweeping curves and a few tight ones. There is little traffic and excellent road surfaces. A rock solid 5 ... 5 plus is more like it!

Roadside Amenities

Sorry... The same sign that says Curves ahead says no services next 75 miles. Make sure you fill up in Kooskia or in Lolo before entering this highway because there's nothing but trees, rivers and twisty roads for lots of miles! At the eastern end of the road, try KT's Hayloft in Lolo, MT (Intersection of Hwy 12 and Hwy 93) for breakfast!

Additional Info

- View the weather forecast for this area from Yahoo weather .

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Reviewed by Guest on June 20, 2010 (1 out of 1 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Mitch Von
motorcycle_year: 2001
motorcycle_make: Kawasaki
motorcycle_type: Sport-Touring
Comment: The road teases you, starting with gentle sweeping turn, building you confidence and urging you faster. The scenery, the curves, and good road surface continue relentlessly. As your endurance wanes some turns have closing a radius. I had the time of my life riding Lolo pass. A stop at Lodge near the top of the pass is great to a quick bite and fuel before heading back down. Everybody rider should have the joy of riding Lolo pass at least once in their life. Go early in the day before the revenuers (law enforcement) give you a performance award.
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Reviewed by Yellow GL 1800 Trike on November 3, 2011 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Paul Whittington
motorcycle_year: 2009
motorcycle_make: Honda Gold Wing GL 1800 Trike
motorcycle_type: Other
Comment: Rode LoLo in August 2010, as part of a 23 day 8,000 mile ride covering every state West of Louisiana. LoLo Pass was a high point of the ride.
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Reviewed by Guest on February 10, 2011 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Christian Boots
motorcycle_year: 2005
motorcycle_make: Yamaha
motorcycle_type: Sport
Comment: I'm lucky enough to live in Missoula Montana, which is just 10 miles from the head of Hwy 12. I can't think of a better sportbike road to ride on anywhere within 500 miles of here. If you're looking for a road with never-ending twisty's, straightaways, scenery, everything desirable in a motorcycle centered highway...this is the road for you. Definitely a "must ride" highway to ride on if you're near by on a motorcycle.
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Reviewed by Guest on September 1, 2010 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Russ Thompson
motorcycle_year: 2007
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: This was by far the best ride on our way back from Sturgis. From Missoula to Lewiston. We stopped by the river at some park and had lunch.
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Reviewed by Guest on August 25, 2010 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: John Meyer
motorcycle_year: 1974
motorcycle_make: BMW
motorcycle_type: Standard
Comment: A must ride. We rode from MT into ID midweek with very little traffic. What a ride. This was during a 2,000 mile week long ride and this was our favorite section of the week. If you enjoy big sweeping curves on perfect road surface along a very scenic wild river for miles and miles, then this is for you. Lowell is a great place to stop near west end. Good food, gas and choices to camp or rent a cabin across the road. Very little straight sections on this road. You can really get into a groove. Cant wait to go back.
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Reviewed by Guest on August 22, 2010 (0 out of 1 members found this review useful.)
Creator: hogboy
motorcycle_year: 2008
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Sport-Touring
Comment: 67 miles of switchbacks with 100 degree temps gets old really fast,I dont mind curves,it got very tedious after awhile,believe me I am no novice,I wouldnt do it again in hot weather!
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Reviewed by Guest on February 5, 2010 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Tony Proctor
motorcycle_year: 2002
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: Aug 2008 over the going to the sun hwy pass flathead lake (breath taking) through lolo pass to lewiston ID, stop in at the loscha lodge (stay there if possible a slice of heaven). Not to be missed, one of my favorite places.
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Reviewed by Guest on December 25, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: jim
motorcycle_year: 2008
motorcycle_make: Suzuki
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: Rode this in 08 the weather was great, temp 90 degrees. The views are great and the pavement was good, the only down side is no gas along the way. I would ride it again.
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Reviewed by Guest on August 31, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Sled
motorcycle_year: 1996
motorcycle_make: Honda
motorcycle_type: Touring
Comment: One of the best! All the way from Lolo to Lewiston or Grangeville. The highway construction get a bit, but that keeps the road in good shape. You can get gas at Lowell .
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Reviewed by Guest on August 27, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: Oh Lucy
motorcycle_year: 1996
motorcycle_make: Harley-Davidson
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: A beautiful day for this particular ride. There were delays but overall ...it is well worth it.
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Reviewed by Guest on July 3, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: bonafidebob
motorcycle_year: 2007
motorcycle_make: BMW
motorcycle_type: Sport-Touring
Comment: June 2009, despite construction near Lowell, and light rain when I went through there, it's still a magnificent road. Good pavement, excellent scenery, well marked curves. Good lunch at the Loscha Lodge just West of the summit, it's off the road a bit so watch for the sign.
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Reviewed by Guest on May 27, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: DeDe
Comment: May 2009, 23 miles of road construction east from Lowell with gravel humps, and no warning of end of pavement in the east bound lane. There�s tons of traffic from river rafters and this year a new and exciting obstacle, Canadian attack geese that like motorcycles. Every year Hwy 12 is a majestic and surprising ride that will surely get your adrenalin going one way or the other. I highly recommend this ride!
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Reviewed by Guest on February 4, 2009 (0 out of 0 members found this review useful.)
Creator: DeDe
motorcycle_year: 1100
motorcycle_make: Yamaha
motorcycle_type: Cruiser
Comment: Amazing ride! watch out for the trucks, we have seen a role over every year we have traveled this route.
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