French Woman’s Road

Helena to Elliston, Montana

Contributed by Steve F. Russell

The Frenchwoman’s—aka French Woman’s—Road originated in 1687 connecting Helena, Montana with the Little Blackfoot River and the Deer Lodge Valley. Constant Guyot operated the toll road from her home on Dog Creek. The road was eventually replaced with U.S. Highway 12 and the pass is now known as MacDonald Pass. For more, read “The Frenchwoman and MacDonald Pass” by Jon Axline.1Original source: “The Frenchwoman and MacDonald Pass”, Newsline, Montana Department of transportation, 2008, https://www.mdt.mt.gov/publications/newsletters/newsline.shtml.

Map Files: KML | KMZ

Frenchwoman's Road 1872 GLO Plat Map
Frenchwoman’s Road 1872 GLO Plat Map
Frenchwoman's Road Map by Steve Russell
Frenchwoman’s Road Map by Steve Russell
Northern Pacific Railroad Survey of Frenchwoman's Road
Northern Pacific Railroad Survey of Frenchwoman’s Road
Northern Pacific Railroad Survey of Frenchwoman's Road (Inverse)
Northern Pacific Railroad Survey of Frenchwoman’s Road (Inverse)
Frenchwoman's Road Interpretive sign
Frenchwoman’s Road Interpretive sign

Notes

Topics

Google Maps Route Center Line Lewis and Clark Trail Oregon-California Trails Lolo Trail Nee-Me-Poo National Historic Trail Mullan Road Trail Inventory Other Bird-Truax Trail Fur Trade Carroll Trail Methodology Old North Trail The Wilderness Road

Contributors

Steve F. Russell Kristopher K. Townsend US National Park Service (LCNHT) Robert H. Dunsmore Richard S. Buswell Merle Wells Larry Jones John (Jack) P. Harlan Martin Plamondon II James D. Harlan Ralph Saunders David and Sue Eakin Raymond Borchers