The Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club hosts their annual Three River's Century in late August. The club offers three route options, including a 100 mile standard century (this mapped route), a 62 mile metric century, and a relatively flat 32 mile ride. All three routes start and finish at Lewis and Clark Park in Belgrade (10 miles west of Bozeman). The 100 mile ride goes through Norris, Harrison, and Three Forks before stopping for lunch at the Missouri Headwaters State Park. The route then passes through Logan and Manhattan before looping back to Belgrade via Dry Creek Road.
This route offers stunning scenery over the high plains of southwest Montana. Periodically the ride drops down along the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson Rivers as they meander to their confluence forming the Missouri River. Whether riding with the club on the organized ride, or on your own, this 100 miles will leave you exhuasted and exhilarated at the same time!
TO TRAILHEAD: From the Belgrade I-90 interchange follow the signs toward the Airport. Turn by the Fire Station onto Davis Street. Lewis and Clark Park is behind the Fire Station.
Lewis and Clark Park-Belgrade
Location: 45.775411°, -111.174085°
All three route options for the <a href="http://gallatinvalleybicycleclub.org">Gallatin Valley Bicycle Club's</a> Three Rivers Century (100 Mile, 100 Kilometer, and 32 mile) start and finish in Belgrade's Lewis and Clark Park. The Town Pump C-Store adjacent to the park is a good place to stock up on supplies-or lose that last cup of coffee before the ride.
Thorpe Road
Location: 45.747791°, -111.205845°
Gallatin County's recent paving of Frank, Thorpe, Cameron Bridge, and River Roads has been a revalation for Bozeman area cyclists! We no longer need to ride along the scarey busy Jackrabbit Lane to get to Norris Road.
Norris Road
Location: 45.671164°, -111.230907°
Norris Road has a nice wide shoulder here-just past the Cottonwood Hills Golf Course. This ride will take you right next to those distant mountains (the Tobacco Roots) in a couple of hours.
Churchill Road
Location: 45.666726°, -111.262579°
100 mile riders will continue straight to Norris. 100 km riders turn right to go over Churchill to Manhattan. They eventually meet up again with the 100 mile riders at the Headwaters rest stop.
Anceney
Location: 45.648128°, -111.354847°
Once upon-a-time this was the termination of a Northern Pacific Railroad spur line. The tracks are gone and the grain elevator has been converted into a very unique residence.
Road narrows
Location: 45.646928°, -111.516981°
For most of the next 12 miles, the road loses its shoulder and becomes very curvey with intermitent guard rails. Traffic is usually light, but watch for clumps of cars behind the occasional semi-truck, RV, or boat trailer.
Madison River
Location: 45.635467°, -111.538181°
The Madison River shimmers in the afternoon sunlight. On hot days the river is so crowded with floaters on rafts and inner tubes that a person could almost walk across without getting their feet wet! The river is also popular and productive for fly fishermen.
Red Mountain
Location: 45.607553°, -111.574745°
About 30 miles into the ride, Gallatin Valley Bike Club sets up it's first rest stop for the Three Rivers Century-held annually in late August. There's a rest room facility (of the outhouse variety) and picnic tables, but no water.
Bear Trap Canyon
Location: 45.585212°, -111.593285°
This parking area provides a boat ramp and is the "put-in" for the liesurley float downstream. The Madison River squeezes through a narrow 9 mile long chute called Bear Trap Canyon-creating some major whitewater. There's a walkable trail along the river, just keep and eye (and ear) out for rattlesnakes.
Norris
Location: 45.569832°, -111.691132°
The little c-store at the corner of US 287 and MT 84 is the first opportunity for supplies on this route for those riding unsupported. The folks in this store are always super friendly!
US Highway 287
Location: 45.633426°, -111.739111°
The high plains between Norris and Harrison. The Tobacco Root Mountains are spectacular to the left (west), but unfavorable light and clouds prevented a decent photo on this ride.
Harrison
Location: 45.702283°, -111.786490°
Downtown Harrison only needs one side of the highway. The other side is pasture. Harrison is the half way point (50 miles) on this ride. The bike club has a rest stop in Harrison for the organized ride. Unsupported riders can refuel at the small grocery store-right along the Highway.
Riding buddies
Location: 45.752792°, -111.766491°
A small herd of mule deer run along and then across the highway. Sadly-there are a lot of road kill deer all along this route.
Jefferson River
Location: 45.803495°, -111.751213°
The docile Jefferson River near Sappington Junction.
MT Highway 2/US 287
Location: 45.816119°, -111.739883°
The next 15 miles of Highway 2 have minimal shoulders. Traffic is usually not heavy, but it is fast moving and there are some semi-trucks. Be especially aware of westbound vehicles passing other vehicles coming towards you.
Three Forks
Location: 45.894309°, -111.552429°
The name of the town refers to the three forks of the Missouri: the Gallatin, Madison, and Jefferson Rivers which join together just a few miles from here. By the time I got to Three Forks the sunlight was fading fast-making picture taking impossible (I did the last 30 miles with my lights on). I'm supplementing this page with some past Three Rivers Century photos. This photo was taken by my Mom, Bert Karp, during the August 2006 event as we passed through downtown Three Forks. The Thriftway c-store at the corner of Main and Ash has been an oasis for me on many solo rides of this route.
Missouri Headwaters
Location: 45.920199°, -111.498828°
This picnic area in the Missouri River Headwaters State Park serves as the organized ride's lunch stop. If you have the time-and don't mind a few extra miles, go a little further north to see the confluence of the Madison, Jefferson and Gallatin Rivers forming the mighty Missouri. The Lewis and Clark expedition came upon the headwaters on their way to the Pacific Ocean in 1805 and they named the three forks forming the Missouri after their President (Jefferson) the Secretary of State (Madison), and the Secretary of the Treasury (Gallatin). There are many information signs throughout the park explaining the rich history of this area.
Team Dinosaur
Location: 45.907301°, -111.496940°
The Bozeman Masters Velo Team, affectionately known as Team Dinosaur, steams into the Headwaters reststop during the 2008 Three Rivers Century-windsheild photo provided by my brother, Clay Karp.
Frontage Road
Location: 45.891681°, -111.465569°
The Bridger Mountains loom in the background as a group of riders cruises toward Logan during the 2008 Three Rivers Century-photo courtesy of Clay Karp.
Broadway and Main-Manhattan
Location: 45.856393°, -111.333175°
Outbound metric century riders (100 km) will enter Manhattan on Broadway and turn left at the 4-way stop sign on to Main Street which becomes the Frontage Road. Metric Century riders head west to meet-up again with the 100 mile riders at the Headwaters lunch stop.
Manhattan
Location: 45.860159°, -111.326909°
All three ride options of the Three Rivers Century (100 miles, 62 miles, 32 miles) follow the route out of Manhattan on West Dry Creek Road-photo courtesy of Clay Karp
Dry Creek
Location: 45.874892°, -111.196919°
The Dry Creek Church parking lot is the final rest stop on the organized ride. From here it's an easy sprint back to Belgrade on Dry Creek Road (if the wind isn't blowing too hard).
Sir Scott's Oasis
Location: 45.857096°, -111.334607°
After burning 5000 or more calories riding the Three Rivers Century route, clean yourself up and head back to Manhattan to indulge in one of Gallatin Valley's favorite steak houses. The portions are huge and delicious-reservations are recommended.
The Mint
Location: 45.776021°, -111.176292°
Belgrade's finest eatery-the Mint brings them in from miles around. It's a great choice after a long day of riding. Reservations are recommended.
