MacDonald Pass by Bicycle - Velo

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MacDonald Pass

I want to call this one Stinking-Car-Exhaust Pass. It is 4 lanes of asphalt all the way, and barely a turn to keep down the noise level or the exhaust fumes. But maybe during conditions other than a cloudless blazing August heat wave, conditions are better than that. Actually I am sure they must be. There are two fairly nice views along the way of the Helena Valley. And - except for a short section below the summit on the east side, there are no rumble strips, or there is a spacious shoulder - something that is really rare in western Montana.

1.START-END EAST:jct US14 - County Club Ave, northern Helena
2.jct US12 - Priest Pass Rd
3.TOP: 6320ft, MacDonald Pass
4.jct US12 - rd to Mullan Pass, also called Blossburg Rd
5.START-END WEST: Eliston

Approaches

From East. US12 is a steady mild climb on a 4 lane highway with a good shoulder to the right of rumble strips. At one point an interesting view of the road appears. It appears to climb ever-so-slightly towards a wide gap on a mildy rising mountain loaf. But at least on a cloudless day under the hot August sun, this is still quite a climb, even if it doesn't look like it. There is no real scenery to entertain the mind - until you get to an overlook, which does present a impressive picture of the expansive Helena valley. It is accessible from a football field sized parking lot. But hardly anybody seems to stop. From here it is still a small climb on a good shoulder to the top. Here another short dirt road leads to a vista point similar to the previous turnout. the Continental Divide Trail also crosses at this shallow summit

From West (described downwards). If it wasn't for the fact that the bike moves down the road without any necessary pedaling, scenery-wise this could be a few foothills in the Appalachians. A short distance down the road is a roadside water spigot, originating from a wonderfully cold spring. A roadside sign anounces it 1/4 mile prior to getting there. Mandatory pedaling resumes at the junction with Mullan Pass Rd

Darrides with this point as highest summit:

PARTIALLY PAVED / UNPAVED

( < Marias Pass | same page> )

MacDonald Pass , Mullan Pass , additional out and back : near jct US12 - Mullan Pass Rd > up Mullan Pass Rd > Mullan Pass > down Skelly Gulch Rd > Birdseye > jct with US12 <> out and back into Helena > US12 west > MacDonald Pass > US12 west > back to startingpoint near jct US12 - Mullan Pass Rd: 50.3miles with3710ft of climbing in 4:55hrs (garmin etrex30 m3:20.8.15)
Notes: last very hot day before the start of a "real "heat wave.

(<same page | Stemple Pass > )

MacDonald Pass, Priest Pass: near jct US12 - Mullan Pass Rd > up Mullan Pass Rd > jct with FR335 <> out and back up Mullan Pass Rd to turnaround point at next railroad crossing >> up FR335 > Priest Pass > down east side of FR345 > US12 west > MacDonald Pass <> a few miles of exparatory out and back at summit >> US12 west > back to starting point near jct US12 - Mullan Rd: 26.9miles with 3010ft of climbing in 3:03hrs (garmin etrex30 m3:20.8.16)
Notes: miniature morning ride during major heat wave, with temperatures forecast in the 100s in some areas of the YPR listening area. -still definitely cooler at the next camping spot on the top of Mac Donald Pass. The planned route had been to ride to the top of Mullan Pass and then take the Continental Divide Trail to Mac Donald Pass. But a BNSF trail blocked a road crossing for indeterminate time, I decided for Priest Pass instead. I think this was actually a more enjoyable route than the CD trail.

History

Toll Roads: Aproximatel two decades after Mullan had opened his nearby military road of the pass by the same name, and 5 years before railroads would start to run over Mullan Pass, conditions were right for a toll road to be built over this nearby summit. According to Sprague's "the great Gates", it was built by EM Lige Dumphy in the 1870s and managed by MacDonald who has his name attached to it until 1876.

A sign at the summit suggests another name for the pass "French Woman's Pass", after the wife of the builder, who ran a popular Inn at its base on the west side in Elliston. She was murdered without that the case ever being solved, but her husband considered the prime subject.