GD Sec02 Alder Creek Fire possible road closure near Wise River - July 2021

[mmoser]

There is a fire south of Wise River that is sometimes closing SR 43 and could close FR 73.  Check the Alder Creek Inciweb page or Facebook page for updates:
https://inciweb.nwcg.gov/incident/7641/
https://www.facebook.com/AlderCreekandTrailCreekFires

To get around the fire closure area, use the Divide Alternate to Divide. Then here is a reroute around the fire between the Divide and Bannack Bench Rd.
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36843527

Smoke conditions can be dangerous.
You can check the current air quality conditions here:
https://gispub.epa.gov/airnow/

[tdelker]

Thanks so much! We will be going on this section leaving butte on Thimirsday morning so will be monitoring road closures

Is there a reason it chumps on and off the highway and doesn’t follow the frontage road the whole way from Divide to Dillion?  It looks like a good option depending on traffic. Google maps bike directions puts you on the highway the whole way for some reason.

Thanks!

Tom

[jamawani]

You can stay on the service road all the way from Divide to Dillon.
Sometimes it is right next to I-15, but not often.
Pavement conditions vary.
You do have to use I-15 between Butte and Divide.

From Butte, an easier option with no Interstate riding:
Hwy 2 east to Cedric
Hwy 41 south to Twin Bridges
(skipping Dillon)

Hwy 2 is Old US 10, scenic, light traffic.
Hwy 41 noth of the Hwy 55 junction has light traffic.
More traffic south of Hwy 55, but good shoulders.

[mmoser]

Good catch, Tom.  It just snapped to the wrong road.  I fixed the reroute now so that it is all on the frontage road from Divide to Dillon. 
https://ridewithgps.com/routes/36843527

[Kevinandmichele]

Leaving Butte on 7/29 - are you suggesting going in alternate and not route. I do not see that pioneer hwy is closed but could be dangerous. Looking for opinion. Thank you !

[tdelker]

When we came through a week ago it was not a problem other than smoke near wise river for a few miles.

My opinion - it’s worth taking the main route as long as they don’t close the pioneer highway.

[mmoser]

I would say, look at the inciweb updates on the fires, talk with locals about current conditions, then make your best judgement.

The Pioneer Mountain Scenic Byway is pretty spectacular if it is safe to ride.  The alternate is not bad, though.  It is next to the mountains instead of in them.

[ray b]

Thanks for the follow-ups.

Those on the GDMBR can also subscribe to feeds for alerts and closures within the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF that are related to the fires.

https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices