Film Trailer Released for the Montana Backcountry Discovery Route Project
January 9, 2026
Seattle, WA – (January 9, 2026)
Backcountry Discovery Routes® (BDR®), the non-profit organization dedicated to creating and preserving off-highway riding opportunities for adventure and dual-sport motorcyclists, has released the official trailer for its newest route, the Montana Backcountry Discovery Route (MTBDR).
The MTBDR documentary follows the BDR team and special guests as they verify and ride the route, capturing both the scale of Montana’s landscapes and the collaborative effort required to develop a route of this magnitude. The film also includes the next generation of BDR riders—the sons of BDR co-founders—reflecting the multi-generational nature of the community and how these routes are often best experienced when shared. It’s a reminder that the BDR legacy continues to grow, shaped by riders who are discovering these places for the first time.
The world film premiere and official route release will take place on Saturday, February 7, 2026, at the Ellen Theatre in Bozeman, Montana, with members of the BDR team, route architects, and industry partners in attendance. Tickets for the premiere are available at www.RideBDR.com/MTBDR.
Free GPS tracks, digital maps, FAQs, and travel resources will be released at 12:00 PM Pacific on February 7th at www.RideBDR.com. The waterproof MTBDR Motorcycle Map will be available for purchase through the BDR Online Store.
ATTEND THE MTBDR FILM WORLD PREMIERE
Join the BDR cast, crew, industry representatives, and local ADV enthusiasts for the Route Release Party and World Premiere of the MTBDR Film on February 7 in Bozeman, MT.
WHEN:
Saturday, February 7, 2026
WHERE:
Ellen Theatre
17 W Main Street
Bozeman, Montana 59715
About the Route
The MTBDR is BDR’s 23rd route and completes the final link in the Western BDR system, creating a continuous backcountry network across the western United States. The approximately 900-mile route begins in Island Park, Idaho, and travels north through Montana before ending near the U.S.–Canada border outside of Eureka.
Crossing more than thirteen mountain ranges, the MTBDR takes riders deep into Big Sky Country, weaving together alpine ridgelines, remote valleys, dense pine forests, historic mining towns, wide-open ranchlands, and rugged two-track roads. Highlights include the Gravelly Range, Ruby River Valley, Virginia City, Butte, and the wild landscapes of the East Pioneer, Highland, and Cabinet Mountains.
Blending scenic gravel, flowing forest roads, and optional harder sections for more experienced riders, the MTBDR offers an ideal balance of accessibility and challenge. The route is best enjoyed between July and September, depending on snow levels and seasonal closures.
With the release of the route, riders will have access to free GPS tracks, detailed travel resources, FAQs, route updates, and the official MTBDR Motorcycle Map, providing everything needed to plan a self-guided Montana backcountry adventure.
ATTEND THE MTBDR FILM WORLD PREMIERE
Join the BDR cast, crew, industry representatives, and local ADV enthusiasts for the Route Release Party and World Premiere of the MTBDR Film on February 7 in Bozeman, MT.
ATTEND A MTBDR FILM SCREENING EVENT
Interested in attending a screening in your area?
Check the listing of screenings. More screenings are being added daily, so check back if you don’t see a screening near you.
HOST A MTBDR FILM SCREENING EVENT
ATTENTION: Moto Dealers & Clubs!
Connect with your local ADV community and bring riders into your space by hosting MTBDR film screening. BDR provides marketing assets to support your event. Sign up now!
“The Montana BDR completes the last piece of the Western BDR puzzle, and it’s been one of the most anticipated routes we’ve ever created. It delivers on every level, with big landscapes, remote riding, historic towns, and a true sense of exploration. This route does not disappoint.”
“As a Montana native, it’s incredibly rewarding to help bring this route to life. The MTBDR showcases the best of our state while supporting rural communities that rely on visitor travel. We’re excited to welcome riders from across the country to experience Montana responsibly and respectfully.”
Made Possible by Our Partners
The MTBDR project was made possible through the support of key industry partners who share BDR’s commitment to adventure motorcycling, responsible travel, and public land access.
Triumph Motorcycles America
Triumph Motorcycles America returned for a second consecutive year as an OEM sponsor, providing Tiger 900 Rally Pro motorcycles for the expedition team. Triumph also supported the project with guest riders featured in the film, including Jeff Stanton of Jeff Stanton Adventures, a Triumph-accredited training and touring partner.
ONX OFFROAD
OnX Offroad, the official navigation app of Backcountry Discovery Routes, supported the MTBDR by providing reliable, user-friendly navigation tools that helped the team verify the route and navigate safely throughout the expedition.
QUAD LOCK
Quad Lock outfitted the MTBDR team with its patented phone mounting systems, allowing riders to securely mount their phones for navigation even on rough backcountry roads and rugged terrain.
Edelweiss Bike Travel
Edelweiss Bike Travel, a leading global motorcycle tour company, continues its long-standing support of the adventure motorcycling community in the U.S. through its ongoing sponsorship of BDR routes and projects.
BDR is also grateful for the continued support of its industry partners, including:
Touratech, Mosko Moto, Motoz Tires, KLIM, Cardo Systems, Alpinestars, Rev’It!, Colorado Motorcycle Adventures, West 38 Moto, Rogue Moto, Moto Camp Nerd, SoCal Offroad School, Fox Racing, Black Dog Cycle Works, Doubletake Mirror, REVER, Cyclops, Emmaus Moto Tous, ADV Rider Training, Giant Loop, and others.
For more information about the MTBDR, film screenings, and route details, visit www.RideBDR.com/MTBDR.
About BDR
Backcountry Discovery Routes® (BDR®) is a 501c(3) non-profit organization that creates off-highway routes for adventure and dual-sport motorcycle travel. The organization’s work includes promoting rider education and safety campaigns, driving economic relief to rural communities, and encouraging responsible motorcycle travel in the backcountry.
BDR delivers turn-key trip planning resources to the community, including GPS tracks, digital maps, travel information, route condition updates, YouTube videos, Q&As, and other information – all available 24/7 on www.RideBDR.com.
Since 2010, BDR has created routes in Washington, Utah, Colorado, Arizona, Idaho, New Mexico, Nevada, the Mid-Atlantic region, Southern California, the North East region, Wyoming, Oregon, Northern California, the South East region, and soon in Montana. In 2022, BDR introduced a new concept of shorter, BDR-style routes that loop, called BDR-X. Current BDR-X routes include Red Desert, Wyoming; PA Wilds, Pennsylvania; Steens Mountain & Alvord Desert, Oregon; Black Hills, South Dakota; Big Bend, Texas; Texas Hill Country, and Lost Coast, California.
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