Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF Offers Abundance of July 4 Recreation Opportunities

Release Date: Jun 23, 2015

Contact(s): Leona Rodreick

As the July 4^th holiday approaches, the Forest Service would like to remind those who are planning for the holiday weekend that there are great places throughout the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest to visit.  The forest has over 3,200 miles of trails, 76 campgrounds, picnic and recreation areas, as well as being home to the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness and the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. 

Among the traditional camping, hiking and fishing activities, visitors are known to also enjoy wildflower viewing, photography, exploring the back country and a multitude of family activities.  Additionally, there are 25 rustic cabins available throughout the forest for rent during the summer and fall hunting season.  Go to www.recreation.govto find out more and to reserve a cabin or a campsite.

Before you plan your trip, check for current road, trail and campground conditions by contacting the Forest Service, or go online to www.fs.usda.gov/bdnf, always check to see what the current weather conditions are and go prepared for changing conditions.  Visitors are cautioned to stay on the road to avoid getting stuck or starting wildland fires and to pay attention to road closed signs.

Many trails may not be open at higher elevations or muddy.  Please stay on the trail and do not create new trails to get around hazards.  Trail users should expect many trails to be impassable from fallen trees. 

Visitors are also asked to be careful when recreating in the forest due to the potential for trees to fall.  Here are a couple of handy tips:  Be aware of your surroundings and avoid dense patches of dead trees.  Trees can fall without warning; place tents and park vehicles in areas where they will not be hit if a tree falls; Stay out of the forest when there are strong winds that could blow down trees. If you are already in the forest when winds kick up, head to a clearing out of reach of any potential falling trees.

Bears, both black bears and grizzlies, are out and about.  Keep your camp clean and store food out of reach of all animals. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF requires all food and other items that might attract bears to be stored where bears can’t access them at night and during the daytime when food and attractants are not attended. ‘Attended’ means that a person is physically present within 100 feet and in direct sight of the food or carcass.  While attended, food and attractants do not have to be stored.  To find out more about bear safety go online to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF web page at www.fs.usda.gov/bdnf.

Visitors are cautioned to be extremely careful with fire, fuels such as grass, shrubs and trees are beginning to dry out.

Fireworks are prohibited in National Forests.  Fireworks and dry grass and trees are a bad combination.  Never leave a campfire unattended.  Make sure your campfire is extinguished completely and the coals are cool to the touch before you leave.

For more information, call the nearest Forest Service office to the area you wish to visit.