Bitterroot NF - About Us - Offices

Address:
88 Main Street
Stevensville, MT 59870
Front Desk: (406) 777-5461
FAX: (406) 777-7423

 

Office Hours:
Monday thru Friday
Yearlong: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed on all Federal Holidays

 

District Ranger: Steve Brown

 

The Stevensville Ranger District office is in the historic town of Stevensville, Montana. Stevensville is recognized as the first permanent settlement in Montana, a fact reflected in its motto: “Where Montana Began”. The district is the northernmost on the Bitterroot National Forest.

 

The district is split into distinctive east and west halves by the private land in the Bitterroot Valley. The east half of the district is formed by the Sapphire Mountains, which rise from rolling, grassy foothills along the east side of the valley up through steep forested slopes to the rounded peaks of the Sapphire Divide.

 

The western half of the district is formed by the towering, rocky peaks, and deep, glacially carved canyons of the Bitterroot Mountains. Much of this country is within the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness, which can be accessed via excellent foot trails up many of the canyons. Soaring cliffs near the mouths of many of the canyons are popular with rock climbers. Trailheads on both sides of the valley lead to a variety of backcountry camp sites.

 

There are several popular developed recreation sites found on the district: Bass Creek Recreation Area, Charles Waters Memorial Campground, Larry Creek Group Site, Blodgett Canyon Campground, and Gold Creek Campground.

 

Address:
712 North Main
Darby, MT 59829
Front Office: (406) 821-3913
FAX: (406) 821-4264

 

Office Hours:
Monday thru Friday
Yearlong: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed on all Federal Holidays

 

District Ranger: Abbie Jossie

 

The Darby Ranger District, whose office is located in the town of Darby, Montana, sits geographically in the center of the Bitterroot National Forest on the southern end of the Bitterroot Valley.

 

The private land of the valley splits it into a district that has a distinctive west and east half. The eastern half is characterized by rolling hills in the lower elevations transitioning quickly into steep rugged terrain to the peaks of the Sapphire Divide. This area includes a large portion of the Sapphire Wilderness Study Area. The western half transitions quickly from private land to the steep rugged canyons of the Bitterroot Range which consists primarily of the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness area.

 

The Darby district has the highest level of developed recreation use on the forest, due mostly to the proximity to the population center in Ravalli County and the presence of Lake Como.  Lake Como consists of three developed recreation sites, a beach, a handicap accessible trail and picnic area, a rental cabin and a boat dock/launch.  Lake Como is popular over a larger landscape with many visitors from Missoula and Idaho.  Other developed sites on the district include Black Bear Campground, Schumaker Campground, Lost Horse Cabin, and Gird Point Lookout.

 

Address:
7338 Hwy 93 S.
Sula, MT 59871
Front Office: (406) 821-3913
FAX: (406) 821-2340

 

Office Hours: Closed to Information Services

 

District Ranger: Abbie Jossie

 

The Sula Ranger District, located near the historic ranching community of Sula, Montana, is tucked into the southeast corner of the Bitterroot National Forest. The district, which is bordered by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest to the east and the Salmon-Challis National Forest to the south, is comprised of 250,000 acres of public land, 41,000 of which lies within the districts’ managed portion of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness.

 

History is abundant on the Sula Ranger District. A segment of the Lewis and Clark Trail passes through the district, including the famous meeting site between Lewis and Clark and the Flathead Indians, at historic Ross’ Hole – present day Sula.

 

Tribal history is evident throughout the district, having one of the few segments verified through cultural research of the Nee-Me-Poo National Historic Trail. Additionally, the Medicine Tree, significant to Salish Indian lore, is located within the district.

 

A portion of the Continental Divide Trail, managed by both the Bitterroot and Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests, leads hikers and horseback riders through rugged country, and past snow-covered peaks reaching nearly 10,000.’ While trails through the Wilderness provide solace and solitude, motorized users are welcomed on many of the trails and roads on the Sula Ranger District.

 

Opportunities for camping, both convenient to Highway 93, and conveniently remote, are plentiful on the Sula Ranger District. Indian Trees Campground offers the chance to see ‘Indian-peeled’ scarred trees, which were peeled to reach the cambium layer for food used by Tribal Peoples, sometime between 1835 and 1885. Other popular campgrounds are Spring Gulch Campground which is located on the East Fork of the Bitterroot River, while Crazy Creek, Warm Springs, and Martin Creek Campground’s are near numerous hiking trails. For the equine camper, Crazy Creek Horse Campground allows horse-users the opportunity to enjoy a developed campground which accommodates stock while being conveniently located to many trails.

 

Other recreational opportunities include historic lookouts and cabins which are available to rent. The East Fork Guard Station, built in 1914, can accommodate groups up to thirty-five or offer a solitary get-away in a one room cabin that sleeps up to 8 individuals, and is located on the East Fork of the Bitterroot River. Medicine Point Lookout, restored in 1998, affords spectacular 360* views of the Bitterroot Valley and Range, including Trapper Peak, the highest point in the Bitterroot Range. McCart Lookout, which is poised on the edge of the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness, and lastly, the Twogood Cabin, an old ‘cow camp,’ constructed by local homesteading families and transferred to the U. S. Forest Service in the 1990’s offers a rustic get-a-way experience.

 

Winter activities are one of our specialties. Lost Trail Powder Mountain is located at Lost Trail Pass just 12 miles south of Sula off Highway 93 on the Montana-Idaho border. For the Nordic skiing enthusiast there are both groomed and ungroomed trails located at Chief Joseph Pass just east of Lost Trail Pass on Highway 43. Ungroomed snowmobile trails can be found all over the district. Lost Trail Snowpark Trailhead is located at the junction of Highway 93 and Highway 43 at the top of Lost Trail Pass. Snowmobile parking is provided at this trailhead and there are miles of ungroomed trails to explore.

Address:
6735 West Fork Road
Darby, MT 59829
Front Office: (406) 821-3269
FAX: (406) 821-1211

 

Office Hours:
Monday thru Friday
Yearlong: 8:00 am - 4:30 pm
Closed on all Federal Holidays

 

District Ranger: Dan Pliley

 

The West Fork Ranger Station is located 18 miles south of Darby, MT along the West Fork of the Bitterroot River. The river is a major focal point for fisherman in and out of the Bitterroot Valley. Beginning with the first insect hatch in the spring the snow-melt swollen river is swarmed upon by fisherman with boat and tackle. As the waters subside and spring blends into summer the river provides a more soothing fishing experience and time for scenic raft trips.

 

Although the river leads you to the district, it is the wilderness character that defines the West Fork Ranger District. More than half of the district is wilderness. It is one of the few places one can drive between two great wilderness areas.

 

At Magruder Crossing the road climbs high among sub-alpine larch and crosses mile after mile of wilderness landscape. As you drive this narrow winding road you can peer into the 2.3-million-acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness or the 1.2-million-acre Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. This road was constructed by CCC's in the 1930's and remains much the same now as it did then and provides a unique "driving" experience. There are few amenities along the way except for crystal clear mountain streams and miles of unobstructed vistas. Silence and solitude abound here.

 

If you follow the Selway River from Magruder Crossing the road ends at Paradise. From here you can launch a raft to float the famous Selway River, 47 miles of Class IV rated river miles. During the permit season (May 15 to July 31) only one launch is permitted per day. Permits are available through Recreation.gov.

 

Campgrounds on the district include Slate Creek, Alta, Rombo, Fales Flat and Sam Billings. Campsites have fire rings, picnic tables, and outhouses. Most are near to a lake, stream or hiking trail. Sam Billings is a short distance from the Boulder Creek trail a popular hiking trail that follows Boulder Creek into the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness.

 

Another popular campground on the district is Fales Flat. This primitive campground is unique because of the large meadow and great number of Indian peel trees in the area. This campground has a large group camp area (up to 100 people) where reunions and weddings and family gatherings have been held. Reservations for Fales Flat, Alta, and Rombo Campgrounds can be made at Recreation.gov