Montana Highway 49 Explained

State:MT
Type:MT
Route:49
Map Custom:yes
Map Notes:MT 49 highlighted in red
Alternate Name:Looking Glass Hill Road
Length Mi:11.734
Length Ref:[1]
Direction A:South
Terminus A: at East Glacier Park
Direction B:North
Terminus B: at Kiowa
Counties:Glacier
Previous Type:MT
Previous Route:48
Next Type:MT
Next Route:55

Highway 49 (MT 49) in the U.S. State of Montana is a route running in a northerly direction from a junction with U.S. Route 2 in the town of East Glacier Park. The highway extends approximately 12miles to an intersection with U.S. Route 89 at a location known as Kiowa. Highway 49 is near the southeastern corner of Glacier National Park, and is heavily used by tourists during the summer months. A spur road heading west from Montana 49 four miles (6 km) north of East Glacier provides access to the Two Medicine area of the park.[2]

Much of the route is steep, narrow, and winding, and prone to landslides. The northerly 8miles of the route, passing over Looking Glass Hill, is unmaintained and usually impassable during the winter months.

Highway 49 was once part of the alignment of U.S. 2, prior to the construction of a highway bridge across Two Medicine Creek, which allowed for a more direct route between East Glacier and Browning.

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Montana Off System Routes. Montana Department of Transportation. April 7, 2017. GIS data.
  2. Official 2007-2008 Montana Highway Travel Map. Montana Department of Transportation. January 31, 2008.