Lolo Pass Visitor Center

XC Skiing/Snowshoeing

For fee and pass information, visit the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.

The Lolo Pass area serves as a major trailhead for cross-country skiing and snowmobiling. The cross country ski trails are groomed twice a week (generally December to March) by the Missoula Snowgoers Snowmobile Association and the Missoula Nordic Ski Club.h. The Visitor Center also features a marked snowshoe trail that is a 1.8 mile loop, and has snowshoes that can be checked out for a small donation.

Maps of the Lolo Pass area and surrounding snowmobile routes are available at the Visitor Center. The Powell Ranger District phone number is 208-942-3113.

A Beacon Basin training facility is installed at Lolo Pass for winter. The Beacon Basin is provided through cooperative efforts of the West Central Montana Avalanche Foundation, private donations, and the U.S. Forest Service. The training opportunity is available to visitors even if the Visitor Center is closed. Snowmobilers will have to walk from the parking lot to use the site. You must have a transceiver to use the site.

Cross-country ski and snowshoe trails:

• Glade Creek Loop Ski Trail: 2.1 miles, groomed on weekends
• Packer Meadows Loop Ski Trail: 6 miles, groomed on weekends 
• Moose Ridge Loop Ski and Snowmobile Trail: 14 miles, most difficult, groomed for snowmobiles
• Snowshoe Trail: The snowshoe trail is a marked loop trail about 1.8 miles long. It takes visitors up on top of the ridge just west of the Visitor Center and offers spectacular views on a clear day. The trail is marked with 10 ft bamboo poles that have yellow diamonds on them. The trail starts just outside the front door of the Visitor Center.
   

Snowmobiling

For more information, visit the Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forest.

Groomed snowmobile routes

• Pack Creek to Beaver Ridge to Lochsa Lodge
• Granite Pass to Fox Creek
• Upper Shotgun to Parachute back to Lochsa Lodge.

Portions of these routes are on both the Lolo and Nez Perce-Clearwater National Forests and run parallel to the Great Burn roadless area. Please review your map to make sure you travel only in the designated areas. Forest maps can be purchased at the Visitor Center. Other useful maps are available online, as well as at the Visitor Center:

• Over Snow Vehicle Use Map - Lolo Pass
• Motor Vehicle Use Map (MVUM) - Lolo Pass

Contact the Missoula Ranger District (406-329-3814) or the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife and Parks (406-542-5500) to check for snowmobile area and trail closures.

The Lochsa area snowmobile trail system is groomed and maintained by the Missoula Snowgoers, who typically begin grooming snowmobile trail system on December 1st. Please remember there is a posted speed limit of 25mph from the Lolo Pass parking area to the end of the cross-country ski area. There are two marked junctions where the cross-country ski trail does cross the snowmobile trail on the FS rd #373, near the Visitor Center.
Snowmobiles are NOT allowed on the cross-country ski trails, so please take the time to print a map or pick one up at the Visitor Center.

Safety Information

• Visit the Missoula Avalanche Centerfor information and advisories regarding avalanches.
• Check out the daily weather at the Lolo Pass NOAA website 
• Other Helpful Links:
  • Idaho SNOTEL Map with links to snow survey sites in Idaho
  • Idaho Department of Transportation Weather