Dillon-Twin Bridges Alternative

[BikeliciousBabe]

Sorry if this is on the maps already, but I recently rode an alternative to the hairy section of MT 41 between Dillon and Twin Bridges that is mostly gravel (tame gravel) and really nice.

RWGPS won't let me map what I actually rode, but this is some of it:

https://ridewithgps.com/routes/51572063

Note that, when heading east, there are two street signs fro East Bench Rd. The first one is right after you cross a little creek and the shoulder disappears.  The route posted above uses the second East Bench Rd., which is another 5 miles of shoulderless riding with semis east.

I turned off the the first East Bench Rd.  For some reason, RWGPS won't let me map the way I went, but you can see the roads on Goggle Maps.

R onto East Bench
L@T onto Trout Creek
R@T to stay on Trout Creek
Becomes Christiansen
L@T onto Walsh
R onto E. Bench
Follow remainder of above map to Twin Bridges

IIRC, all of the roads had signs except where Trout Creek Becomes Christiansen.  I think I saw one or two moving vehicles on the extra mileage I did, and the farms and ranches back there are stunning.  IMO, it's worht the extra effort.  It sure beats the beavy traffic on MT 41.  You will miss a close view of Beaverhead Rock, but you can actually see it when you get back onto E. Bench after Walsh.