Superior (Montana)

Superior is a town in the Glacier Country of Montana, in the narrow valley of the Clark Fork River. There are high mountains on both sides of the town, since Superior is inside the Rocky Mountain Range.

Superior has a variable but harsh climate with cold winters and hot summers. For weather, the best months are spring and early fall, when highs are in the 60s and 70s (Fahrenheit) (15-25 °C) and lows are above freezing temperature. Precipitation is about 17 in (430 mm) of rain and about a foot (30 cm) of snow each year.

Interstate 90 (I-90) connects the town from Missoula to the east and Coeur d'Alene to the west.

• 47.168226-114.8526921 Mineral County Airport, 415 Aileron Way (Southeast of town; can be accessed via Mullan Road East), ☏ +1 406 822-3538. This is a very basic airport that is close to Superior.  (updated May 2018)

Think of the town as having several different districts:

• The main body of Superior, which is on a grid that is almost exactly following north, south, east, and west. This where Durango's restaurant and the Big Sky Motel can be found.
• Oliverville, in the southeast of Superior. Here, the grid is turned until the streets are diagonal in comparison with north, south, east, and west; this puts them parallel with I-90.
• The part north of the Clark Fork River, along Mullan Road. There are two bars and a motel in this small section of the town. A road bridge connects this area with the main body of Superior.
• Alongside Diamond Road, south of I-90. This is an area with some gas stations and espresso cafe stops.
• Spring Gulch, a quite separate community a few miles downstream along the Clark Fork River. The village is the location of Sheep Mountain Lodge.

The main body of Superior is only a few hundred yards long and about a hundred yards wide, making it easy to get around. There are also two walkways on the bridge that goes to the northern part of town.

• Clark Fork River (Viewable from many roads, including River St, where a bridge crosses the river, and I-90). This long, fairly wide river merges with the Bitterroot River near Missoula about 50 miles (80 km) southeast of Superior. It then flows past Superior and on to Lake Pend Orielle, when it becomes the Pend Orielle River and eventually merges with the Columbia River. (updated May 2018)
• 47.147564-115.1754531 Diamond and Cliff Lakes, Forest Road 7843 (From I-90, take the Southside Road exit south to Dry Creek Road (Forest Route 342); follow into the mountains and take a left onto Route 7843; a lot of the route is unpaved). Although the drive to the lake is hard, the views at the top are beautiful and are quite similar to the views at Bouchard Lake. There is a small parking lot at the lake. There is also a larger lake, Cliff Lake, just up the valley from Diamond Lake. The top of the cliff that is near Cliff Lake is the Montana-Idaho border.  (updated May 2018)

• 47.193052-114.8914161 Castles (Family Foods), 302 River St, ☏ +1 406 822-4801. Mon-Fri 7AM - 5PM; Sat 8AM - 2PM.  (updated May 2018)
• 47.194629-114.8904462 Jackie's Flowers & Gifts, 180 River St (at Second Ave), ☏ +1 406 822-7673. Mon-Fri 7AM - 5PM; Sat 8AM - 2PM.  (updated May 2018)

• 47.19286-114.889221 Durango's, 104 4th Ave E (at Cedar Ave). There is a gas station near the Durango's restaurant.  (updated May 2018)
• 47.195194-114.8903392 Whipped Up Cafe, 100 River St, ☏ +1 406 272-5874. Tue-Sun 7AM - 7PM.  (updated May 2018)

• There is a brewery near Superior that supplies alcoholic drinks to the local bars.
• 47.197636-114.8914881 Bootlegger, 111 Mullan Rd W, ☏ +1 406 822-4348.  (updated May 2018)
• 47.198077-114.8909652 Four Aces Bar, 106 Mullan Rd W, ☏ +1 406 822-3273.  (updated May 2018)

• 47.192316-114.8898241 Big Sky Motel, 104 4th Ave E (off I-90, Exit 47). Services include TVs, heating, air condition, internet access, and continental breakfast. Pets are allowed in designated rooms, additional fees apply.  (updated May 2018)
• 47.197908-114.8923052 Hilltop Motel, 79 Mulligan Rd W (North side of Clark Fork River), ☏ +1 406 822-4781.  (updated May 2018)
• 47.236257-114.9846153 Sheep Mountain Lodge, 264 Sverdsten Ln (Spring Gulch, a few miles downstream along the Clark Fork River), ☏ +1 206 713-5801.  (updated May 2018)

There is a post office on Third Avenue.

There is 47.19395-114.8914772 Mineral Pharmacy on River St in downtown Superior, and there is a library on the eastern side of town.

• Coeur d'Alene is west on I-90.
• Missoula is east on I-90.

Coeur d'Alene ← Wallace ←

W  E

→ Alberton → Missoula