Highway 86 (MT 86) is a north–south state highway in the

U.S. State In the United States, a state is a constituent political entity, of which there are 50. Bound together in a political union, each state holds governmental jurisdiction over a separate and defined geographic territory where it shares its sove ...

Montana Montana () is a state in the Mountain West division of the Western United States. It is bordered by Idaho to the west, North Dakota and South Dakota to the east, Wyoming to the south, and the Canadian provinces of Alberta, British Columb ...

. MT 86's southern terminus is at I-90 Bus. and

U.S. Route 191 U.S. Route 191 (US 191) is a spur of U.S. Route 91 that has two branches. The southern branch runs for from Douglas, Arizona on the Mexican border to the southern part of Yellowstone National Park. The northern branch runs for from the north ...

(US 191) in the city of Bozeman and the northern terminus is at an intersection with

US 89 U.S. Route 89 (US 89) is a north–south United States Numbered Highway with two sections, and one former section. The southern section runs for from Flagstaff, Arizona, to the southern entrance of Yellowstone National Park. The northern section ...

north of the town of Wilsall. Much of the route follows the eastern flank of the Bridger Mountains, and the road provides access to the Bridger Bowl ski resort. Before receiving its current designation, Highway 86 was designated as Montana Secondary Highway 293.

Route description

MT 86 begins at the intersection of Rouse Avenue and East Main Street, which carries US 191, in downtown Bozeman. It heads north on Rouse along a two-lane street through a residential area. In the northern part of town, MT 86 crosses the Montana Rail Link while simultaneously passing beneath Interstate 90. The highway turns to the east and leaves the city; it skirts the southern edge of the Bridger Range. It passes beneath the "College M", a limestone majuscule M built into the side of Old Baldy within sight of Bozeman and Montana State University. The highway curves around the eastern flank of the mountain range and follows a northerly path. MT 86 travels through mountainous terrain. Coniferous trees line either side of the road's

right-of-way Right of way is the legal right, established by grant from a landowner or long usage (i.e. by prescription), to pass along a specific route through property belonging to another. A similar ''right of access'' also exists on land held by a gov ...

. It passes the Bridger Bowl Ski Area, which lies to the west. Shortly thereafter, it meets Brackett Creek Road, which roughly marks the halfway point of the route. The forest surrounding the highway yields to grassland and the terrain levels somewhat as the road turns to the north-northeast near Sedan. The highway takes a sharp curve to the east and then angles to the northeast. The road ends at US 89 a few miles north of Wilsall.

Major intersections

References

086 Transportation in Gallatin County, Montana Transportation in Park County, Montana {{Montana-road-stub