Monida Pass

Monida Pass is a mountain passage in the Bitterroot Range of the Rocky Mountains, located at the border between Idaho and Montana. Interstate 15 runs through this pass as a paved highway, connecting Lima, Montana with Spencer, Idaho.

In the late 1800s, the Utah and Northern Railway built a route through Beaver Canyon on the Idaho side, which Union Pacific Railroad still operates today. This rail connection became crucial for regional commerce and settlement patterns.

The name of this pass combines the first letters of Montana with the last letters of Idaho, symbolizing the connection between these two states. This linguistic blend shows how geography has shaped the identity of the border region.

The highway is passable year-round but is regularly monitored by Montana Department of Transportation, especially during winter conditions. Drivers should check current weather conditions before crossing and can navigate the pass with standard vehicles.

A Union Pacific ice plant once operated at Humphrey on the Idaho side, leaving behind an abandoned settlement visible today. This historic remnant shows how the railroad supported industrial activity in the remote mountain region.