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  • Jericho Mountain Fire - Helena Ranger District

    7/11/2025 | This order has been rescinded as of 7/10/2025. Access has been restored to all roads and trails, including the Continental Divide Trail. Use caution near or in burned area due to unstable surfaces and fire weakened trees.  

    Please be aware that the Jericho Mountain Fire is burning in the Boulder Mountains west of Helena, around 5 miles south of Macdonald Pass. Visitors and residents can find more information here: https://inciweb.wildfire.gov/mthlf-jericho-mountain-fire 

     

    A closure order is available with re-route directions for Continental Divide National Scenic Trail hikers.

Alert Start Date: June 16th, 2025

Alert End Date: July 10th, 2025

Order Number: 01-15-12-25-11

Associated Documents

Jericho Mountain Fire Closure Order CDT reroute directions for hikers Jericho Mountain Fire Closure Order Termination

Forest Order

UNITED STATES DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURE

FOREST SERVICE

HELENA-LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST

HELENA RANGER DISTRICT –HELENA, MONTANA

FOREST ORDER

National Forest System Area/Road/Trail Closure –Jericho Mountain Fire

Pursuant to 16 USC 551 and Title 36 CFR 261.50 (a) and (b), the following orders and restrictions regarding Jericho Mountain Fire on the Helena Ranger District, Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest are hereby enacted: 

PROHIBITION:

  1. Public health and safety. [36 CFR 261.53 (e)]
  2. Being on the road. [36 CFR 261.54 (e)]
  3. Being on the trail. [36 CFR 261.55 (a)]

PURPOSE: 

The purpose of this Order is to protect public health and safety due to wildfire and active fire suppression activities 

 

DESCRIBED AREAS/ROADS/TRAILS:

This closure applies to the following NFS lands, roads, and trails approximately 17 miles southwest of Helena, MT. In general, the closure starts on the west side of Rimini County Road at the forest boundary, follows the west side of the Rimini County Road (does not include road itself) going south to the intersection with Forest Service system road (FSR) 527 (Minnehaha Road), along and INCLUDING FSR 527 to the intersection of FSR 527/1863, continuing south along and INCLUDING FSR 1863 and 1863-A1 to the Forest Boundary, then heading north along and INCLUDING FSR 495 to the intersection with the Little Blackfoot road, heading east and continuing north along the forest boundary to where it intersects with Highway 12, again following the forest boundary going south and east back to Rimini County Road. Cromwell-Dixon Campground and the Quigley Group Use Site remain open. 

 

TRAILS CLOSURES: All miles of Forest Service System Trails:

  • 348, Switchback Ridge
  • 495-T
  • 337, Continental Divide National Scenic Trail from MacDonald Pass, south to the forest boundary which is the end of road 1863-A1.

 

ROAD CLOSURES: Forest Service System roads within the area closure boundary:

  • 1863, Bullion Parks
  • 1863-E1, Bullion Parks E1
  • 527, Minnehaha
  • 495, Telegraph
  • 1856, Hahn Creek
  • 1856-C1, Flume Creek Ridge
  • 1863-A1, Josephine-Ontario
  • 495-C1, Newmans Camp
  • 495-C3

 

AREA CLOSURE: Exhibit A (the “Described Area/Roads/Trails”) also shows NFS sections within the area closure boundary.

  • T10N, R06W, section 36
  • T10N, R05W, section 31
  • T09N, R05W sections 6-9, 17-20, 29-32
  • T09N, R06W sections 1-2, 11-14, 24-29, 32-36
  • T08N, R05W sections 6
  • T08N, R06W sections 1-4, 10-15, 22-23, 26

IMPLEMENTATION:

This order will be in effect from 12:01 a.m. on June 18, 2025 and shall remain in effect until December 31, 2025, or until the order is rescinded, whichever occurs first.

These prohibitions are in addition to the general prohibitions in 36 CFR Part 261, Subpart A.

EXEMPTIONS:

Pursuant to 36 CFR 261.50(e), the following persons are exempt from this Order:

1. Owners or lessees of land in the area.

2. Residents in the area.

3. 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).

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

VIOLATION:

Violation of these prohibitions is punishable by a fine of not more than $5,000 for an individual or $10,000 for an organization, imprisonment for not more than 6 months, or both.  (16 U.S.C. 551 and 18 U.S.C. 3559 and 3571).

 

 

INFORMATION:

Any person wishing to use a National Forest System road or trail or a portion of the National Forest System, should contact the Forest Supervisor, Director, Administrator, or District Ranger to ascertain the special restrictions which may be applicable thereto.

Executed in Helena, Montana, this 18th day of June, 2025. 

 

/s/ Emily Platt

Forest Supervisor

Contact Name:

Helena Ranger District

Contact Number:

406-449-5201

Contact Email:

sm.fs.mailrmr1hlf@usda.gov

Maps

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Map of the Jericho Mtn Closure Order
Map of the Jericho Mtn Closure Order

Last updated July 11th, 2025

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