FS Road #8998 closure

U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service 
Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest 
Rocky Mountain Ranger District

Road and Trail Closure

PROHIBITIONS

Pursuant to 16 U.S.C. § 551 and 36 C.F.R. § 261.50 (b), the following is prohibited on the National Forest System (NFS) road and trail on the Rocky Mountain Ranger District, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Road and Trail”):

1. Being on the road [36 C.F.R. § 261.54(e)]

2. Being on a trail [36 C.F.R. § 261.55(a)]

EXEMPTIONS

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

1. Persons with Forest Service Permit No. FS-7700-48 (Permit for Use of Roads, Trails, or Areas Restricted by Regulation or Order), specifically exempting them from this Order or a written determination by a Forest Service authorized officer that a permit is not required under 36 C.F.R. § 251.50(e)(1) or (2).

2. Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty.

DESCRIBED ROAD AND TRAIL

Forest Service Road #8998 is closed to motor vehicles in its entirety, beginning from the junction of Forest Service Road #144 and Forest Service Road #8998 and through its junction with Trail #195, in T25N, R3W Section 6.

Forest Service Trail #195 is closed to motor vehicles in its entirety, beginning from the junction of Forest Service Road #8998, in T25N, R3W, Section 6.

PURPOSE

The purpose of this Order is to protect the natural resources in this area.

IMPLEMENTATION

1. This Order shall be in effect from January 21st, 2026, at 0001 through January 21st, 2028, at 2400, unless rescinded.

2. A map identifying the Described Road is attached and made part of this Order as Exhibit A. For a digital version of this Order and Exhibit A, go to https://www.fs.usda.gov/r01/helena-lewisclark/alerts.

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 Rocky Mountain Ranger District in Choteau, MT, (406) 466-5341, and Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Helena, (406) 449-5201, for more information about this Order.

6. This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts on the same Described Road and Trail.

Signed and issued on January 26, 2026

/s/ Emily Platt 
Forest Supervisor