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Mountain Passes in Montana

20 mountain passes in Montana with photography planning data — sunrise and sunset azimuths, golden hour by month, Milky Way windows and estimated sky darkness. Beaverhead County has the most (5). The darkest skies are at Bannock Pass (Bortle 1).

Top mountain passes

Logan PassMountain Pass
Logan PassGlacier County · 2,028 m
Mullan PassMountain Pass
Mullan PassPowell County · 1,808 m
Bannock PassMountain Pass
Bannock PassBeaverhead County · 2,342 m
MacDonald PassMountain Pass
MacDonald PassLewis and Clark County · 1,924 m
Big Hole PassMountain Pass
Big Hole PassBeaverhead County · 2,151 m
Bozeman PassMountain Pass
Bozeman PassGallatin County · 1,738 m
Chief Joseph PassMountain Pass
Chief Joseph PassBeaverhead County · 2,210 m
Skalkaho PassMountain Pass
Skalkaho PassRavalli County · 2,212 m
Mountain Pass
Lewis and Clark PassLewis and Clark County · 1,958 m
Mountain Pass
Deer Lodge PassSilver Bow County · 1,805 m
Mountain Pass
Eagle PassLake County · 2,275 m
Mountain Pass
Pipestone PassSilver Bow County · 1,974 m

Mountain Passes by county

All mountain passes (20)

NameCountyElevationNearest townSky
Logan PassGlacierGlacier County2,028 mColumbia Falls1
Mullan PassPowell County1,808 mHelena West Side3
Bannock PassBeaverhead County2,342 mButte1
MacDonald PassLewis and Clark County1,924 mHelena West Side2
Big Hole PassBeaverhead County2,151 mSalmon1
Bozeman PassGallatin County1,738 mBozeman3
Chief Joseph PassBeaverhead County2,210 mSalmon1
Skalkaho PassRavalli County2,212 mHamilton1
Lewis and Clark PassLewis and Clark County1,958 mLincoln1
Deer Lodge PassSilver Bow County1,805 mButte3
Eagle PassLake County2,275 mRonan1
Pipestone PassSilver Bow County1,974 mButte2
Raynolds PassMadison County2,082 mWest Yellowstone1
Rogers PassLewis and Clark County1,716 mLincoln1
Elk Park PassSilver Bow County1,936 mButte4
Gibbons PassBeaverhead County2,117 mAnaconda1
Homestake PassJefferson County1,940 mButte3
Kings Hill PassMeagher County2,251 mGreat Falls1
Badger PassBeaverhead County2,059 mDillon1
Haskell PassFlathead County—Kalispell2

Sky = estimated Bortle class (1 darkest – 9 brightest).

Map

How to photograph mountain passes

Mountain passes sit above valleys, so they reward sunrise and sunset with layered ridges, valley fog and long shadows.

  • Check road status before driving: many high passes close seasonally or after storms.
  • Look for the road itself as a leading line — switchbacks from above make strong compositions.
  • Weather changes fast at elevation; carry layers even in summer.
  • Summit pull-outs often face one direction; use the sun azimuth table to see whether sunrise or sunset suits the view.
  • Wildflowers bloom late at pass elevations — often July to early August in the Rockies and Sierra.

Season: Summer and early autumn are the main season; winter visits depend on plowing and avalanche conditions.