Road/Trail Prohibitions, Off-Road Prohibitions in Recommended Wilderness Areas

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Butte, Dillon, Madison, Pintler, and Wisdom Ranger Districts

Forest Order – Road/Trail Prohibitions, Off-Road Prohibitions in Recommended Wilderness Areas
 

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(a) and (b), the following acts are prohibited on the Butte, Dillon, Madison, Pintler, and Wisdom Ranger Districts of the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest:

1.   Possession or operation of wheeled or motorized vehicles utilized to transport people on any National Forest System roads within the designated areas described below and shown on the attached maps, which are hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibits A through M. (36 C.F.R. § 261.54(a))

2.  Possession or operation of wheeled or motorized vehicles utilized to transport people on any National Forest System trails within the designated areas described below and shown on the attached maps, which are hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibits A through M. (36 C.F.R. § 261.55(b))

3.  Possession or operation of motorized vehicles off any National Forest System roads within the designated areas described below and shown on the attached maps, which are hereby incorporated into this Order as Exhibits A through M. (36 C.F.R. § 261.56)

EXEMPTIONS

Pursuant to 36 C.F.R. § 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1.  Persons with a permit specifically authorizing the otherwise prohibited act or omission. (36 C.F.R. 261.50(e)(1))

2.  Any Federal, State or Local Law Enforcement Officer or member of an organized rescue or fire fighting force in the performance of an official duty. (36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(4))
3.  For purposes of this order, “wheeled and motorized travel” does not include wheelchairs as defined by the Americans with Disabilities Act of 1990 (42 U.S.C. § 12207). (36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(6))

DESCRIBED AREA/ROADS/TRAILS

The closure applies to all National Forest System (NFS) lands depicted on the attached maps (Exhibits A through M), which are hereby incorporated into this Order, and are generally described below. Georeferenced digital (PDF) versions of these maps are available on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest website at https://www.fs.usda.gov/alerts/bdnf/alerts-notices. These PDF maps are designed for use on GPS-enabled mobile devices and can be displayed on any PDF reader. When viewed in an installed mobile map application, each map is designed so that the user’s location can be displayed on screen in real time.

• Anaconda-Pintler Recommended Wilderness Additions (Hell Roaring)

Located on the Wisdom Ranger District. The northwestern boundary begins in T.1N., R.17W., Sections 16 and 21 along the Congressionally-designated Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness boundary, near the headwaters of Hell Roaring Creek, and extends to the northeast into T.1N., R.15W., Sections 4, 3, and 10 between Roberts Creek and Pintler Falls. It then heads west to T.1N., R.15W., Sections 16 and 17 between McCormick and Howell Creeks before turning southwest crossing Plimpton Creek towards Mussigbrod Trailhead in T.1N., R.16W., Section 33. From there it heads north and then west into T.1N., R.16W., Sections 28 and 29 where it crosses Forest Trail No. 3372 and Hell Roaring Creek before turning south into T.1N., R.16W., Section 31. From there it extends southwest, crossing Bender Creek and Forest Trail No. 3017 into T.1S., R.17W., Section 11 before turning northwest to Bender Point. It then follows Forest Trail Nos. 3172 and 3374 northwest back to T.1N., R.17W., Section 21 where it intersects with the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and meets with the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness boundary. See map in Exhibit A.

• Anaconda-Pintler Recommended Wilderness Additions (Storm Lake)

Located on the Pintler Ranger District, it encompasses the northeastern portion of Goat Flat Research Natural Area. Its northeastern boundary begins in T.4N., R.13W., Section 24 and follows the section lines south, crossing Mill Creek into T.4N., R.13W., Section 25. From there it heads southwest along the Pintler and Wisdom River Ranger District boundary to Mount Evans in T.4N., R.13W., Section 35 and extends west towards Mt. Howe. From there it follows the Congressionally-designated Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness boundary north along the section line to T.4N., R.13W., Section 27. The boundary then heads west, crossing Twin Lakes Creek and Forest Trail No. 8044 to Mount Tiny in T.4N., R.13W., Section 30. It then heads north and then east, skirting the southern end of Storm Lake before turning north into T.4N., R.13W., Section 19. From there it follows the section lines east to T.4N., R.13W., Section 21 before turning south to the outlet of Twin Lakes in Section 22 and then north, crossing Forest Trail No. 8043 and following section lines into T.4N., R.13W., Sections 23 and 24. See map in Exhibit B.

• Anaconda-Pintler Recommended Wilderness Additions (Upper East Fork)

Located on the Pintler Ranger District, it encompasses the whole of Dexter Basin Research Natural Area. Its northeast boundary begins in T.4N., R.14W., Section 8 along the southwestern side of East Fork Reservoir and East Fork Creek and heads southeast to the East Fork Trailhead where it turns southwest through T.4N., R.14W., Sections 20 and 19. It then follows the Congressionally-designated Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness boundary south through T.4N., R.14W., Sections 30 and 31. It then heads south through T.3N., R.15W., Sections 1 and 12. From its southeastern boundary in T.3N., R.15W., Section 12, it follows Forest Trail No. 8111’s alignment before turning west into T.3N., R.15W., Section 11 near the terminus of Carpp Creek Road and the Carpp Lake Trailhead. From the trailhead, it extends northwest through T.3N., R.15W., Section 2 into T.4N., R.15W., Section 35 and then heads northeast towards Dexter Basin in T.4N., R.15W., Section 36 where it crosses Dexter Creek and continues northward into T.4N., R.15W., Sections 25, 24, and 13 to the east of Blue Grotto Spring. From T.4N., R.15W Section 13 it then heads east, passing to the north of George Lake and meeting its northeastern terminus at East Fork Reservoir. See map in Exhibit C.

• Electric Peak Recommended Wilderness

Located on the Butte Ranger District, it encompasses the whole of Thunderbolt Mountain Research Natural Area. Its northeast boundary begins along the Powell and Jefferson County line in T.7N., R.6W., Section 6 before turning south into T.7N., R.6W., Section 7 and extends southeast along Forest Trail No. 7068 (Joe Bowers Creek Road) into T.7N., R.6W., Section 19. From there, its southern boundary follows Forest Road No. 1588 (Red Rock Connection) southwest into T.7N., R.7W., Section 25. It then heads south into the northwest corner of Section 36 before extending northwest through T.7N., R.7W., Sections 35, 27, 28, and 29 and then north to Electric Peak. From Electric Peak its boundary continues east into T.7N., R.7W., Sections 21 and 22 and then southward to Thunderbolt Mountain before heading north and northeast roughly following the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail alignment along its western boundary. See map in Exhibit D.

• Garfield Mountain Recommended Wilderness

Located on the Dillon Ranger District. Its northeastern boundary begins in T.15S., R.8W., Section 1 where it intersects Crooked Run Creek and then heads south along the section line and then southwest through T.15S., R.8W., Sections 12, 11, 14, 15, and 16 where it follows Deep Creek. From T.15S., R.8W., Section 16 it extends southeast, crossing Forest Trail No. 1040 into T.15S., R.8W., Section 23 where it intersects with the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) and follows the trail’s alignment southeastward into T.15S., R.8W., Sections 26 and 25 before turning east into T.15S., R.7W., Sections 30 and 29. From there it then continues east along Forest Road No. 1079 through T.15S., R.7W., Sections 28 and 27 before heading north to the Forest boundary along section lines to T.15S., R.7W., Sections 26 and 25. From there it heads south along section lines to T.16S., R.7W., Section 12 before turning sharply west, following the Idaho-Montana state line and the Continental Divide in a northwest direction via The Thumb, Knob Mountain, and Red Conglomerate Peaks to T.15S., R.9W., Section 28. It then turns north, crossing the CDNST in T.15S., R.9W., Section 21 and Little Sheep Creek in T.15S., R.9W., Section 16 where it follows the Forest boundary north to its northwest boundary in T.15S., R.9W., Section 3, south of Little Sheep Creek Road. See map in Exhibit E.

• Italian Peak Recommended Wilderness

Located on the Dillon Ranger District. The northeastern boundary begins in T.15S., R.11W., Section 19 and heads south along the section lines to T.16S., R.11W., Section 6 where it crosses the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail (CDNST) and then extends east along Section 8. From there it turns south along the section lines, crossing Bear Creek just west of Forest Road No. 70087 and then eastward along the section lines across Tendoy and Nicholia Creeks through T.16S., R.11W., Sections 16, 15, 14, and 13. In T.16S., R.10W., Section 18, the boundary cherry-stems around Forest Road No. 3927 (Deadman Lake Road) and continues east into T.16S., R.10W., Sections 17 and 16. From Section 16 it heads southwest along the Continental Divide, tracing the Montana-Idaho state line into T.17S., R.10W., Section 17 and then northwest via Italian, Eighteenmile, and Cottonwood Peaks along the Continental Divide and Idaho-Montana state lines. In T.15S., R.12W., Sections 35, 26, 25, and 24 it meets with and follows the CDNST to its northwest boundary in T.15S., R.12W., Section 24. See map in Exhibit F.

• Lee Metcalf Recommended Wilderness Additions

Located on the Madison Ranger District. The additions include five distinct segments and are described as follows, beginning from north to south. See map in Exhibit G.
The northern-most boundary of Segment 1 begins to the east of Fall Creek along the Forest boundary in T.4S., R.1E., Section 15 and extends southeast along the Custer-Gallatin National Forest boundary toward Cowboys Heaven and T.4S., R.1E., Section 23 and then southwest to Red Knob Mountain before turning southeast through T.4S., R.1E., Sections 34 and 35, paralleling Forest Trail Nos. 401 and 6342 before extending southwest in T.5S., R.1E., Section 2 towards Watkins Creek. From T.5S., R.1E., Section 10 it then heads west to the Forest boundary and then northwest along the Forest boundary where it crosses Crooked, Short, St. Joe, Trail, Barn, and Spring Creeks through T.4S., R.1E., Section 16 to its northern boundary.

The northwestern boundary of Segment 2, which is triangular in shape, begins in T.5S., R.1E., Section 14 and heads southeast along Forest Trail No. 6342, following the Congressionally-designated Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary to T.5S., R.1E., Section 24 and then west along section lines to T.5S., R.1E., Section 23. It then turns north and follows the Forest boundary, crossing a tributary of Jourdain Creek and meeting its northern terminus in T.5S., R.1E., Section 14.

The northwestern boundary of Segment 3 begins in the northwest corner of T.6S., R.1E., Section 13 and crosses Aspen Creek, then extends to the east along section lines into T.6S., R.2E., Section 18, and then southeast in a zig-zag fashion along section lines to the northwest corner of T.6S., R.2E., Section 28 where it crosses Forest Trail No. 6317. It then turns northwest along the Congressionally-designated Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary through T.6S., R.2E., Sections 29, 20, and 19 via Fan Mountain and back to T.6S., R.1E., Section 13.

The northwestern boundary of Segment 4, which is T-shaped, begins in T.6S., R.1E., Section 28 near Boulder Creek and heads east along the Forest boundary and then south to T.6S., R.1E., Section 34 where it turns eastward and follows the Forest boundary and section lines into T.6S., R.1E., Section 35. From there it heads south, following the Congressionally-designated Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary and then west along the wilderness boundary back into T.6S., R.1E., Section 34. From there it extends south again along the Congressionally-designated Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary to the bottom of T.7S., R.1E., Section 4 and then west to Tolman Creek and the Forest boundary, which it follows north back to its northwestern boundary in T.6S., R.1E., Section 28.

The northern-most boundary of Segment 5 begins along the Congressionally-designated Lee Metcalf Wilderness boundary in T.9S., R.1E., Section 13 and parallels the wilderness boundary south through T.9S., R.1E., Sections 24 and 25. Its southeastern boundary crosses Wolf Creek in T.9S., R.1E., Section 25 and follows the Forest boundary and section lines west into T.9S., R.1E., Section 26. From there it turns sharply north, following the Forest boundary and section lines across Deer Creek in T.9S., R.1E., Section 23 and then heads east along the shared boundary with Bureau of Land Management (BLM) and then north along the BLM boundary back to Section 13.

• Mount Jefferson Recommended Wilderness

Located on the Madison Ranger District. Its northwestern boundary begins in T.14S., R.2E., Section 30 sharing a boundary with the Centennial Mountains WSA (managed by Bureau of Land Management). From Section 30 it extends southeast along the Continental Divide through T.14S., R.2E., Sections 29 and 32 via Red Rock Mountain and then southwest along the Forest boundary with the Caribou-Targhee National Forest, passing through the northwest corner of T.15S., R.2E., Section 5 and into T.15S., R.2E., Section 6. From there it continues in a southwest direction, crossing Hell Roaring Creek before heading west along the Idaho-Montana border and turning north, east of Nemesis Mountain, along the Forest boundary and section lines back to T.14S., R.2E., Section 30. See map in Exhibit H.

• Quigg Recommended Wilderness

Located on the Pintler Ranger District. Its northwestern boundary begins in T.9N., R.16W., Sections 23 and 24 south of Ramona Gulch Road between Chico Gulch and Upper Willow Creek drainage and heads south through T.9N., R.16W., Section 25 and then east to its northeastern boundary in T.9N., R.15W., Section 30. It then turns south following portions of Standish Creek with its eastern edges zig-zagging east and west through T.9N., R.15W., Sections 30 and 31, and T.9N., R.16W., Section 36, before turning sharply east in T.8N., R.16W., Section 1, and T.8N., R.15W., Section 6 where it crosses Beaver Creek and turns south through T.8N., R.15W., Section 7, crossing Bear Creek. From Section 7, it turns sharply west along the section line into T.8N., R.16W., Section 12 where it crosses Alder Creek and then extends southwest, crossing Miners and Baboon Creeks in T.8N., R.16W., Sections 13, 24, and 25. Near Coles Gulch in T.8N., R.16W., Section 26, the boundary turns sharply to the west and then south into T.8N., R.16W., Section 35. From the southwest corner of Section 35 it then extends west through Sections 33 and 34 along section lines, sharing a boundary with adjoining Bureau of Land Management land. From there its western edge extends north and then northeast, along the Lolo National Forest boundary, following Sandstone Ridge back to its northern boundary south of Ramona Gulch. See map in Exhibit I.

• Snowcrest Recommended Wilderness

Located on the Madison Ranger District. Its northwestern boundary begins in T.9S., R.4W., Section 25 between Clovis Gulch and Dark Hollow and extends south into T.9S., R.3W., Sections 30 and 31 before heading east and southeast through T.9S., R.3W., Sections 29 and 32, where it crosses Badger Creek. From T.10S., R.3W., Section 4 its boundary runs south along the base of the Snowcrest Mountains and paralleling Centennial Divide Road via Cottonwood and Three Forks Cow Camps to T.11S., R.3W., Section 6. From Section 6 its boundary extends to the southwest, paralleling Pole Creek Road and Beaver Creek through T.11S., R.3W., Section 7 and T.11S., R.4W., Sections 12 and 13 where it then turns sharply east along Deer Creek to T.11S., R.3W., Section 17 where it turns south in T.11S., R.3W., Section 20 and parallels the Ruby River and Centennial Divide Road. In T.12S., R.3W., Section 6, it then heads southwest through T.12S., R.4W., Sections 12, 13, and 14 near Divide Creek Recreation Rental Cabin and southward through Pole Creek Basin and T.12S., R.4W., Sections 22, 27, 34, and 33. In T.12S., R.4W., Section 34, it crosses Piute Creek and heads southwest to T.12S., R.4W., Section 32 where it meets with the Bureau of Land Management (BLM) boundary. It parallels the BLM boundary and follows section lines west to T.12S., R.5W., Section 31 and then heads north along the Forest boundary through T.12S., R.5W., Section 6 before extending eastward along the BLM and State boundary (Madison and Beaverhead County lines). From the northeast corner of T.12S., R.5W., Section 1, it then heads north along the Forest boundary, crossing the Snowcrest Trail, to T.10S., R.4W., Section 31 where it heads in a northeast direction zig-zagging along the Forest boundary crossing Little Rock Creek and Lone Rock Creeks to its northwest boundary. Notch Road and Antone Road are open to wheeled or motorized vehicle use pursuant to 36 CFR 212.51 and 36 CFR 261.13. See map in Exhibit J.

• Stony Mountain Recommended Wilderness

Located on the Pintler Ranger District. Its northeastern boundary begins in T.7N., R.16W., Section 18 south of Juno Gulch and heads south and then southeast into T.7N., R.16W., Section 19 and T.7N., R.17W., Sections 24 and 25 along Schively Gulch. From T.7N., R.17W., Section 36 it turns southeast, following Stony Creek to T.6N., R.17W., Section 15. From Section 15 the boundary intersects the Stony Lake Trail No. 8002 and then turns south through Lawrie Gulch and just west of Fuse Lake in T.6N., R.17W., Section 28. From Section 28 it turns sharply east into the northwest corner of Section 27 before heading south into T.6N., R.17W., Section 33, just north of the Crystal Creek Trailhead. From Section 33 the boundary heads northwest to Skalkaho Pass in T.6N., R.17W., Section 29. From there it follows the Bitterroot Forest boundary, zig-zagging northeastward and then northwestward via Dome Shaped Mountain where it again turns northeastward to T.7N., R.17W., Section 14 where it then turns east through T.7N., R.17W., Section 13 to its northeastern boundary. See map in Exhibit K.

• Table Mountain Recommended Wilderness

Located on the Butte Ranger District. Its northeast boundary begins just east of Pigeon Creek Campground in T.1N., R.6W., Section 31 and heads south, paralleling the Forest boundary to the northeastern corner of T.1S., R.6W., Section 19 where it then parallels Forest Trail No. 7084’s alignment and continues south, just east of Lake Cherry Creek Spring. From there it heads southwest towards The Bar in T.1S., R.7W., Section 26 and crosses Hells Canyon Creek into T.1S., R.7W., Sections 27, 34, and 33 before paralleling the Forest boundary again in T.1S., R.7W., Section 32. From Section 32, it heads northwest following the Forest boundary and crossing Sawmill Gulch and follows Forest Road No. 78069’s alignment along Camp Creek in T.1S., R.7W., Section 19 and continues in a northeast direction via Red Mountain in T.1S., R.7W., Section 9, crossing Mammoth Creek Ridge before crossing Spring Creek in T.1N., R.7W., Section 33 and extending eastward following Fish Creek Road’s alignment back to Pigeon Creek Campground. See map in Exhibit L.

• Torrey Mountain Recommended Wilderness

Located on the Dillon and Wisdom River Ranger Districts. Its northeast boundary begins to the southwest of Canyon Creek Campground in T.2S., R.11W., Section 34 and heads southwest along Forest Trail Nos. 2092 and 2028 before extending sharply to the east between Keokirk and Sheriff Mountains in T.3S., R.11W., Section 3. From there it heads south via Barbour Hill through the middle of T.3S., R.11W., Sections 10 and 15 where it turns east toward Granite Mountain and Brownes Peak, running between Green Lake and Cherry Lake. Just west of Brownes Peak in T.3S., R.11W., Section 24, the boundary turns south along the section lines to Long Branch Lake where it then extends west across Long Creek through T.3S., R.11W., Sections 36 and 35. From there it heads south, crossing Gorge Creek in T.4S., R.11W., Section 11 and then eastward to T.4S., R.10W., Section 18 where it heads south, roughly paralleling Willow Creek. In T.4S., R.10W., Section 19 it continues south along the section lines towards Bond Lake before extending west and then south through T.4S., R.11W., Sections 36 and 35, paralleling the northern side of Deer Lake where it then heads west along Forest Trail No. 1072 through T.4S., R.11W., Sections 34 and 33 to Boot and Pear Lakes. Following the northern shorelines of Boot and Pear Lakes, it then heads southeast via Tent Mountain and Boatman Lake in T.5S., R.11W., Section 20. From Section 20, it then heads southwest to Baldy Mountain in T.5S., R.12W., Section 36 and T.6S., R.12W., Section 2 and its southernmost boundary in T.6S., R.12W., Section 3. From there it follows the Forest boundary north via Polaris and crosses Lake Creek, White Creek, and Clark Creek before turning east along Dingley Creek in T.4S., R.12W., Section 34. From Section 34 it heads east and then north via Comet Mountain and continues north passing to the east of the ghost town of Coolidge and continues northwest near Jacobson Meadows and then turns west sharply towards Mono Creek Campground and Trailhead. In T.3S., R.12W., Section 27 it heads northwest towards Big Point Peak, paralleling sections of Forest Trail No. 2043. From Big Point Peak the boundary continues northeast via Lost Meadow Trailhead and then east along Gold Creek to Maurice Mountain and back through T.3S., R.11W., Sections 6 and towards Canyon Creek Campground. See map in Exhibit M.

PURPOSE

This closure is necessary to implement the 2010 Record of Decision Enacting the Forest Plan Travel Management Direction for the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, which closed Recommended Wilderness Areas and Recommended Wilderness Additions to wheeled and motorized travel as well as prohibited cross-country travel (i.e., travel off routes by motorized vehicles) on these National Forest System (NFS) lands.

IMPLEMENTATION

1.  This Order shall be in effect from March 28, 2025, at 24:00 through March 28, 2028, at 24:00, unless rescinded.
2.  Maps identifying the Described Areas, Roads, and Trails are attached and made part of this Order as Exhibits A through M. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibits A through M, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/bdnf /alerts-notices.
3.  Unless otherwise expressly defined in this Order, the terms used in this Order are defined by the regulations of the Secretary of Agriculture, 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299. If there are terms in this Order that are not expressly defined in the Order or 36 C.F.R. Chapter II, Parts 200-299, their meaning shall be determined by their plain language definitions.
4.  A violation of the above prohibitions is punishable as a Class B misdemeanor by a fine of not more than $5,000 for individuals and $10,000 for organizations, or by imprisonment for not more than six months, or both. 16 U.S.C. § 551; 18 U.S.C. §§ 3559, 3571, and 3581.
5.  Contact the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Dillon, MT, (406) 683-3900, for more information about this Order.
6.  This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts in/on the same Described Areas and Roads.

Signed and issued on April 10, 2025.

Digitally signed by ALFRED WATSON N Date: 2025.04.10

12:34:08 -06'00'

ALFRED WATSON
Forest Supervisor
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest