MacDonald Pass
MacDonald Pass
4.5
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4.5
54 reviews
Excellent
34
Very good
14
Average
3
Poor
3
Terrible
0
AZteacher85203
Mesa, AZ54 contributions
May 2018 • Family
If you want to get out of the city and peruse miles and miles of land virtually untouched by man, drive the MacDonald Pass between Helena and Missoula. At the top of of the pass there is a pull-out where you can stop and just take it all in - nature, beauty, quiet...one of my most favorite places in all of Montana.
Written 1 June 2018
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Chiefs32
Ankeny, IA149 contributions
Jul 2014 • Family
Macdonald Pass is just plain beautiful. I have been there in the spring and summer and loved it each time. Make sure you bring your camera as the shots are awesome from the top of the pass. There is a small path that you can take for a hike that is good for those of us who typically do not hike.
Written 23 July 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
CalgaryDoodles40
Calgary22 contributions
Nov 2011 • Business
This was a beautiful area with new, clean rest stops and a well-maintained hiway.
Written 28 November 2011
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
SoloTraveler2505
Helena, MT4 contributions
Aug 2017 • Friends
Stopped at the scenic lookout spot on the east side of the pass....very fine review of the area provided by the State on site and, even on a somewhat smokey day, the view was superb.
Written 5 August 2017
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Kavoom
Clancy, MT47 contributions
Nov 2015 • Couples
Its a low continental divide pass, but it's everything around it. At the top is NFS Cromwell Dixon campground very nice... On the west at the bottom is a great local restaurant/bar (Lawdogs) in Elliston. Ask about Bigfoot/burgers are big and great. We like to hit it after cold day of cross country skiing.
Heading west, this is the shortcut to Missoula and a beautiful road marked as scenic (very). Also toward the top on the east is cross country skiing (google Frontier Town/old tourist area/closed private), And have your bottles ready for the spring by the side of the road you can fill your bottles. Wonderful water...
On the west side are great "light" offroading (Subarus OK) Priest Pass, Rimini, Mullan pass. Rimini, area toward bottom, if you know where to look, crystal digging, camping, snowmobiling, old ghost townish area, These were the old original roads from 100+ years ago. Mullan/Priest Pass is also a railroad pass over the divide and up at the top the railroad had to run huge multi-miles long runs switchback like to get over. You get a few views of this... Horse Trails at the top of the pass, Continental Divide Trail,
Heading west, this is the shortcut to Missoula and a beautiful road marked as scenic (very). Also toward the top on the east is cross country skiing (google Frontier Town/old tourist area/closed private), And have your bottles ready for the spring by the side of the road you can fill your bottles. Wonderful water...
On the west side are great "light" offroading (Subarus OK) Priest Pass, Rimini, Mullan pass. Rimini, area toward bottom, if you know where to look, crystal digging, camping, snowmobiling, old ghost townish area, These were the old original roads from 100+ years ago. Mullan/Priest Pass is also a railroad pass over the divide and up at the top the railroad had to run huge multi-miles long runs switchback like to get over. You get a few views of this... Horse Trails at the top of the pass, Continental Divide Trail,
Written 27 December 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
jacesings
Saint Louis, MO68 contributions
Aug 2015 • Solo
MacDonald Pass is a relatively low-wattage pass over the foothills of the Rockies, just a few miles west of Helena. One climbs, and then one descends. While there are no spectacular views, the sight of the valley to the east, especially as the sun sets behind you, is worth taking in. And knowing that one is astride the Continental Divide is a special thrill anywhere in this country. I'm glad I went, but I wouldn't give up other activities just to see this site and the sights.
Written 13 August 2015
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
Phillip N
Chicago, IL157 contributions
Sept 2014 • Solo
I did not have time to hike the trails, but I drove over the pass and back to Helena. The view from the MacDonald Vista point was awesome. If you have an hour for the drive, it's worth it. I'll go back up when I can do some of the hiking. One warning, if you make the drive all the way to the top be prepared for a very rough road.
Written 1 October 2014
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
BobD459
Helena, Montana, United States53 contributions
May 2012
This pass is on the continental divide to the west of Helena. Views of the surrounding ranges can be seen from a park.
Written 18 May 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
realist1Montana
montana76 contributions
As you drive there are historical markers en route. Worth getting out to read. There is one area where you can even see wagon wheel ruts petrified into the earth!
Along this route watch for the water spout on the south bound lane where you can fill up a bottle of fresh mountain water that runs there. Get off on Vista Point pull off to watch a sunrise, sunset, or the stars at night and see all over! Watch for speeding people though,the turns are quite sharp at high speeds.You never know when you will come up on a logging truck as did a few teenagers right in front of us that ended up losing control and ended up hitting the mountain side and were knocked unconscious from the high impact. Not a place to get distracted while driving!
Along this route watch for the water spout on the south bound lane where you can fill up a bottle of fresh mountain water that runs there. Get off on Vista Point pull off to watch a sunrise, sunset, or the stars at night and see all over! Watch for speeding people though,the turns are quite sharp at high speeds.You never know when you will come up on a logging truck as did a few teenagers right in front of us that ended up losing control and ended up hitting the mountain side and were knocked unconscious from the high impact. Not a place to get distracted while driving!
Written 13 February 2012
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
phat_dawg_21
Alpharetta, GA16,976 contributions
Sept 2020
This is a Continental Divide about 10 miles west of Helena. US 12 passes through it.
There is a turnout to the south of the highway. From there you have great views, especially on a clear day.
Unfortunately, we had haze.
There is a turnout to the south of the highway. From there you have great views, especially on a clear day.
Unfortunately, we had haze.
Written 28 October 2020
This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. Tripadvisor performs checks on reviews as part of our industry-leading trust & safety standards. Read our transparency report to learn more.
What can I expect driving the pass late January, after dark.
Written 7 December 2016
Sorry to be so late getting back to you.
You probably have heard of the difficulties with getting across MacDonald pass. These stories are likely grounded in truth, this pass can be unpredictable. The weather can be "fine" in Helena or Elliston (towns at lower elevations that the pass connects via Hwy 12), but quite different up at the top. Plowing can be prompt or not at all. I have seen semi-trucks with chains slide sideways before my very eyes - this is not a drive for amateurs during a snow storm.
I do not trust the weather guessers, so to echo WM who also answered, I look at the webcam provided by the MT DOT which you can find in an internet search (sorry TripAdvisor will not allow me to insert links).
I look to see what the conditions are for myself, then evaluate whether or not I want to make my bid to go up it or not.
If you are NOT in a hurry, and driving smart using chains if you need them, you should be fine. I would not just give it a go and hope that it is all okay without checking the webcam first.
Written 7 August 2017
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