Montana Rumble Strips

[AmandaNAud]

Hello!
We're planning on riding the Northern Tier next summer.  I'm reading about nasty, shoulder-wide rumble strips in parts of Montana.  Particularly on Hwy 2 between Cut Bank and West Glacier.  However, the posts I'm seeing this on are well over 10 years old.  Are the rumble strips in this area still as nasty?
Thanks!

[ggwbikemt]

As for rumble strips on US 2 between West Glacier and Cut Bank, it depends on location. Between West Glacier (US 2 milepost 153) and milepost 169, there is little or no paved shoulder (zero to 1 foot) and no rumble strips. Between milepost 169 and 181 near Essex, there are 3-4 foot paved shoulders with newly installed rumble strips (summer 2026) that leaves 1 to 2 feet of usable paved shoulder. From Essex to the top of Marais Pass (milepost 198), paved shoulders vary from 1 to 3 feet with no rumble strips. From Marais Pass to East Glacier (milepost 208) there is little or no paved shoulder (zero to 2 feet) with no rumble strips. From East Glacier to Cut Bank (milepost 255), there are wide paved shoulders most of the time (5 to 8 feet) where there is plenty of space between the rumble strips and the edge of the pavement. The exceptions are in passing lane areas between East Glacier and Browning where the paved shoulder disappears at times and yes, rumble strips continue and going through parts of Browning (milepost 221 to 223).   Yes, there are some highways on the Northern Tier in most of the states that the Northern Tier goes through where rumble strips are either on the edge line with no paved shoulder or cover all of a narrow paved shoulder. I recommend looking at Google Street View to preview the route.   

[BikeliciousBabe]

You're planning on taking Marias Pass instead of Logan Pass in the park?  I have done both.  (U.S. 2 from E. Glacier to the W. Glacier entrance.)  There is simply no comparison.

[John Nelson]

I agree. I wrote in my Northern Tier journal: “Note to future Northern Tier cyclists: If Logan Pass is open, and you voluntary skip Going-to-the-Sun Road and take the Marias Pass Alternate instead, then you're nuts!”

Put simply, Going to the Sun Road is the best cycling road in the United States.

[jamawani]

Ditto.
Ridden Going to the Sun Road a dozen times.
Marias Pass once during the pandemic when GTTS was closed.

It sounds like y'all will be riding east-to-west.
After 43 million miles of Great Plains riding, you'll be glad to reach the mountains.
One option from Browning is to head north on IR 464 to Babb.
Then spend at least one night at Many Glacier. (Hiker/biker campsites)

Head south to Saint Mary, but ...
But don't camp at St Mary campground. Walmart parking lot.
Continue west to Rising Sun. (Hiker/biker campsites)
Small campground with store, cafe, and showers.

Plus, it places you better for an early start heading up to Logan Pass.
I always start a bit before sunrise and get to Wild Goose Island at first sun.
Starting really early means you miss most of the traffic.
Then, I spend a few hours hiking the Highline Trail
before zooming down the other side.

[BikeliciousBabe]

^^This re: Rising Sun."  It's what we had planned to do way back in 2009 when doing the Glacier-Waterton Loop.  IIRC, it's only a couple of thousand feet of climbing in the morning if you start from Rising Sun.

Unfortunately, Logan Pass was still closed and we were on a deadline.  Ended up doing to St. Mary to Sprague Creek Campground via Looking Glass and Marias in one day so we could ride the west sope of Going to the Sun the next day.