Even a small mountain range like the Elkhorns in western Montana is chock full of wonderful backroads that are just begging to be explored. Recently we loaded up the camper and headed out to see what we could find. Can’t get much better than that.
We headed into the mountains from the small town of Radersburg (where Myrna Loy was born, by the way) and followed Forest Service roads up and up until we pretty much couldn’t go any further. We ended up on the Johnny Gulch road, which got narrower and narrower and rougher and rougher, but did eventually spit us out into an open meadow with a lovely spot to camp and an even lovelier view. Our pickup and camper seem to be able to go just about anywhere, but I suspect that one of these times we’re going to get ourselves into a spot that will be tough to get out of. Hasn’t happened yet, though.
And we had Johnny Gulch all to ourselves: other than a healthy looking coyote, we didn’t see another soul the whole weekend.
Off the Beaten Path: Hikes, Backpacks, and Travels 
I love riding forest roads on my mountain bike. I just wish they all had views like these. More times than not they just dead end or become overgrown but it’s the excitement of not knowing what’s around the next corner that keeps me going. Great photos.
And I bet it’s that lure of what’s around the next corner that will someday get us stuck! Oh well. It is great mountain biking country – you’d love it.
“. . . we didn’t see another soul the whole weekend.”
Sounds like heaven to me! Beautiful photos, as always.
Thanks. That easy access to solitude is so great.
Such beautiful landscape! I too love the fact that you’re out there alone… Rare these days!
Thanks…it really is easy to be alone out here. I kind of go crazy when I go east to visit my family and have to really search to find some space. It’s there, but just not as easy to find!