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Kootenai Rails Trail Closure
A portion of the Kootenai Rails Trail (NFS Trail #255) on the Rexford Ranger District is now temporarily closed during construction activities on the Tobacco River Bridge, which is over the trail, and to protect the public on the trail from potential debris impacts. The trail closure is located west of Eureka, MT and east of Rexford, MT, and is closed at Milepost 4.3 continuing east to Milepost 4.4 under the Tobacco River Bridge on Montana State Highway #37.
A trail reroute option is attached below and will be posted at the closure location.
For more information, please contact the Rexford/Fortine Ranger Station at 406-296-2536.
Alert Start Date: August 14, 2025
Alert End Date: N/A
Rec Sites Affected:
Order Number: 01-14-01-25-09
Associated Documents
Forest Order
U.S. Department of Agriculture, U.S. Forest Service
Kootenai National Forest
Rexford Ranger District
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) trail on the Rexford Ranger District, Kootenai National Forest, described below and shown on the attached map incorporated into this Order as Exhibit A (the “Described Trail”):
- Being on NFS Trail #255 (Kootenai Rails Trail) from mile post 4.3 to mile post 4.4. 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:
- 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).
- Any Federal, State, or Local Officer, or member of an organized rescue or firefighting resource in the performance of an official duty.
DESCRIBED TRAIL
As depicted on the map attached as Exhibit A and hereby incorporated into this Order, National Forest System Trail #255 (Kootenai Rails Trail), is located west of Eureka, MT and east of Rexford, MT, and is closed at Milepost 4.3 continuing east to Milepost 4.4 under the Tobacco River Bridge on Montana State Highway #37.
PURPOSE
The purpose of this Order is to protect the public on the trail from potential debris impacts during construction activities of the Tobacco River Bridge above the trail.
IMPLEMENTATION
- This Order shall be in effect from August 15th, 2025 at 0001 through November 30th, 2025 at 2359, unless rescinded.
- A map identifying the Described Trails 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/kootenai.
- 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.
- 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.
- Contact the Rexford Ranger District in Eureka, Montana, (406) 296-2536, and Kootenai National Forest Supervisor’s Office in Libby, Montana, (406) 293-6211, for more information about this Order.
- This Order supersedes any previous Orders prohibiting the same or similar acts on the same Described Trail.
Signed and issued on August 8, 2025.
Seth A. Carbonari
Deputy Forest Supervisor
Kootenai National Forest
Contact Name:
Eureka Ranger StationContact Number:
406-296-2536Contact Email:
SM.FS.knfcontactus@usda.govMaps
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