Forest Service urges public to be careful on snowy, muddy & wet Ntional Forest road and trails

HELENA, MONT.-As weather conditions fluctuate, so do road and trail conditions across the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Some roads across the Forest may be fine, while others in higher elevations could still be snowpacked and impassible. That's why forest managers want to remind people to be careful while driving out and hiking in the forest.

"We want people to get out and enjoy their national forest, but we want them to be careful while out there," Forest Public Affairs Officer Kathy Bushnell said. "We have some roads that remain snow-drifted closed, while others have experienced between 6 to 10 inches of snow melt-off and have made conditions extremely soft and muddy."

Normally, spring brings very wet and muddy conditions and at times the forest temporarily closes roads due to spring break-up in an effort to protect the resources along the roadways. Even if a route is shown as open on the motor vehicle use map (MVUM), people cannot drive off-road to avoid a mudhole or snow drift; that damages resources, creates ruts, and is a considered an unauthorized route. The roads that are snowpacked and/or drifted closed are not necessarily under a "closure order" but forest managers strongly encourage people to find a different route.

To help make sure people maximize their time enjoying the forest, they are encouraged to call their local Forest Service office before heading out. Forest managers will have the most updated information on the conditions, and will be happy to share that with people.

Belt Creek Office: 406-236-5511

Harlowton Office: 406-632-4391

Great Falls Office: 406-791-7700

Augusta Office: 406-562-3247

Helena Office: 406-449-5201

Choteau Office: 406-466-5341

Stanford Office: 406-566-2292

Townsend Office: 406-266-3425

Lincoln Office: 406-362-7000

White Sulphur Springs Office: 406-547-3361

Members of the public can get a free MVUMs that shows the most updated travel restrictions and routes within a geographic area. All of these maps are free, and are available online and at your local Forest Service office. Generally, May 15th is the date upon which many motorized routes open for the summer/fall season; the MVUMs will have the dates and restrictions for each mapped route.

Although there are currently no temporarily closed roads due to spring break-up conditions, any changes to that will be updated on our website at http://www.fs.usda.gov/hlcnf/ under "Alerts & Notices" and on our Facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/HLCNF.