Know winter travel conditions and restrictions before you go

HELENA, Montana (April 7, 2020) - The majority of our roads on the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest are in winter travel conditions and largely impassable. Because of this our Winter Travel Plan and snowmobile season is in effect until May 15. In general, roads are closed until this May 15 date after which many motorized routes open for the summer season. Visitors are reminded to know road conditions before you go and to Tread Lightly by staying on designated roads and trails. Learn more about traveling responsibly at https://www.treadlightly.org/tread-lightly-at-a-distance/.

Please follow the Forest’s Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) which indicate seasonal closures and vehicle type allowed for your safety and to avoid natural resource damage and getting stuck. Motor Vehicle Use Maps (MVUMs) are available for free and show the most updated travel restrictions and routes within a geographic area. All of these maps are available online or through your local Forest Service office (office contact information included below). The MVUMs will have the dates and restrictions for each mapped route. https://www.fs.usda.gov/main/hlcnf/maps-pubs

Over-Snow Motor Vehicle Use Maps:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hlcnf/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd516878

Motor Vehicle Use Maps:

https://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/hlcnf/maps-pubs/?cid=fseprd516875

“Personal firewood cutting will be free to the general public from April 1 through June 1, 2020 and no permit will be required during this time” says Forest Supervisor Bill Avey. “As a reminder please follow the travel restrictions and routes shown in the MVUMs and use caution while driving on Forest Service roads while out gathering firewood”. Many roads remain closed through May 15 and are snow covered and icy at higher elevations. Roads at lower elevations may technically be open but are wet and muddy and the soft roadbed can easily be damaged by vehicle traffic.

“On the Townsend Ranger District there is an annual motorized seasonal closure in effect until May 15 for the Elkhorn Mountains which includes major access roads such as Weasel Creek (FS Rd. #405), Indian Creek (FS Rd. #4031), and Crow Creek (FS Rds. #424 and #621),” says District Ranger Mike Welker. “These areas remain open for non-motorized use.”

“The Jefferson Division is still in winter mode,” says District Ranger Carol Hatfield for the Belt Creek White Sulphur Springs Ranger District. “Forest roads and trails on the Jefferson Division, which includes the Little Belt, Castle, Crazy, Highwood and Big and Little Snowy mountain ranges, are all pending on snow melt. “Groomed snowmobile trails in the Little Belts remain open until May 15, however, we have a situation where people may not be aware of the winter travel plan or are ignoring it. They are driving their vehicles on snow covered roads and our snowmobile trails, getting stuck, having to abandon their vehicles or asking for snow plows and tow trucks. This can all be avoided by knowing road conditions and restrictions before you travel.”

Spring often brings very wet and muddy conditions and in the past the forest has had to temporarily close roads due to spring break-up in an effort to protect the road and resources along the roadways. Driving off-road to avoid mud holes or snow drifts is prohibited so it is important to assess road conditions and retreat if you cannot safely pass. We strongly encourage visitors to find a different route when traveling roads with existing snowpack and/or drifts for your safety and to protect resources. “Even though a lot of our forest roads are impassable due to snow, many of our lower elevation areas are open and drying out,” Avey said. “The forest is yours to enjoy, but please be thoughtful about the conditions, both for your own safety and possible vehicle damage, but also to limit damage to the forest and its’ roads and trails so that others may enjoy it as well.”

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.

To learn more about the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, visit http://www.fs.usda.gov/main/hlcnf. Follow us on Facebook @LewisandClarkNF, follow us on Twitter @HLCNF, or contact your local District office.