Day 1 began at my motel in Hamilton, Montana, but before heading north I first rode south to find the actual beginning of the Bitterroot Trail. The official southern terminus sits along the Bitterroot River about 2.5 miles south of Hamilton, near Angler’s Roost RV & Campground. There was no grand trailhead, archway, or obvious “Bitterroot Trail Starts Here” sign that I could find. The pavement was simply there beside the river. After looking around for something more official and finding nothing, I called it the start and headed north. The Bitterroot Trail is a roughly 44-mile (71 km), paved shared-use trail for bicyclists, walkers, runners, and other non-motorized users. It begins south of Hamilton near Angler’s Roost and travels north through the Bitterroot Valley before connecting with Missoula’s trail system and the Milwaukee Road Trail in the Old Sawmill District. For most of its length, the Bitterroot Trail parallels US Highway 93 as it passes through Hamilton, Victor, Stevensville, Florence, Lolo, and eventually Missoula. This corridor is also closely connected with the Nez Perce (Nee-Me-Poo) National Historic Trail, which commemorates the 1877 flight of the non-treaty Nez Perce. After crossing Lolo Pass into Montana, the Nez Perce traveled south through the Bitterroot Valley while attempting to avoid pursuing U.S. military forces. Today, much of that historic route through the valley is represented by the Highway 93 corridor. As a bicycle trail, the Bitterroot is extraordinarily easy to follow. It is wide, paved, and generally very smooth. Large portions of the trail received preservation and resurfacing work in 2026, particularly between Hamilton and Florence, and the improved surface was noticeable. Other than a few transitions through the towns along the way, genuinely rough pavement was rare. Scenically, however, I would describe the Bitterroot primarily as a transportation trail rather than a destination trail. Much of it stays close to Highway 93. There are sections where it wanders away from the highway and gives you some breathing room, along with frequent views of the mountains surrounding the Bitterroot Valley, but much of the ride consists of following the highway north. My verdict after riding it? The Bitterroot Trail is an excellent Point A to Point B trail. It would also make a great backbone for a century ride because the pavement is smooth, the grades are mild, and several towns along the route provide easy access to food, water, and other services. Would I travel back to Montana specifically just to ride the Bitterroot Trail again? Probably not. For me, it is a one-and-done trail as a destination ride. Would I happily ride it again if it were part of another journey through the Bitterroot Valley? Absolutely. If you need to travel this corridor by bicycle while staying separated from Highway 93 traffic, it is difficult to beat. After reaching Missoula, I continued beyond the Bitterroot Trail and worked my way west toward Frenchtown. My destination was a Hipcamp property called The Holmestead Cabin, where I had reserved the Holmestead Glamping tent site. That turned out to be one of the real treats of Day 1: a quiet little camping spot tucked into the trees beside Mill Creek and a much better ending to the day than I had expected when I rolled out of Hamilton that morning. There's more at GravelGrindingBoys.com - Video.