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Recreation
Welcome to the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest! The accessible forest landscape here provides abundant opportunities for local residents and visitors to enjoy our wildlife, history and scenery. Roads and trails support a balance of motorized and non-motorized recreation including: hiking. biking, horseback riding, cross-country skiing, OHV riding, snowmobiling and driving for pleasure.
Current Recreation Conditions
| Area Name | Status | Area Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Aspen Campground | Open | water available |
| Aspen Grove Group Use Campground | Open | Reservable at www.recreation.gov |
| Aspen Grove Picnic Area | Open | |
| Bar Gulch Cabin | Open | No water available |
| Benchmark Campground | Open | |
| Calf Creek Cabin | Open | The last 7 miles of the road is closed from approximately 12/1 through 5/15. It is a designated groomed snowmobile trail. Travel the last 7 miles must be made by skiing, snowmobiling or walking. Due to snow conditions, travel on Forest Service Road #119 may be limited through the end of May. Please call (406) 547-3361 or (406) 236-5511 to verify the road condition. |
| Cave Mountain Campground | Open | |
| Copper Creek Campground | Open | |
| Coulter Campground | Open | |
| Cromwell Dixon Campground | Open | |
| Crystal Lake Cabin | Open | |
| Crystal Lake Campground | Closed | As of 6/12/24 the campground remains closed while contractor finishes up |
| Cummings Cabin | Open | |
| Dearborn Trailhead | Open | |
| Deep Creek Picnic Area | Closed | This site is closed due to flooding damage. Check "alerts/notices" for the latest update. |
| Double Falls Campground | Open | |
| Dry Wolf Cabin | Open | |
| Dry Wolf Campground | Open | water available |
| Eagle Guard Cabin | Open | Non-motorized access only 12/2 to 5/15 |
| Elk Creek Trailhead | Open | |
| Elko Campground | Open | |
| Forest Lake Camping Area | Open | open year-round |
| Gibson Boating Site | Open | |
| Gipsy Lake Day Picnic Area | Open | |
| Granite Butte Lookout | Open | Granite Butte is located atop the Continental Divide and is exposed to harsh site conditions. Strong winds are common year round and temperatures drop to below zero temperatures in the winter months. Winter renters should be prepared for a 4 mile ski or snowmobile trip into the tower and to bring appropriate cold weather camping equipment and gear. Winter renters are encouraged to check weather conditions and to call the Lincoln Ranger Station for current conditions. |
| Grasshopper Campground | Open | water available |
| Green Gulch Dispersed Camp Campground | Open | no water |
| Hay Canyon Campground | Open | |
| Home Gulch Campground | Open | |
| Hunters Spring Cabin | Open | |
| Indian Flats Cabin | Open | |
| Indian Meadows Cabin | Open | |
| Indian Meadows Trailhead | Open | |
| Jellison Place Campground | Open | this is a dispersed camp area, not a campground |
| Judith Guard Station Cabin | Open | Call Ranger District office or Supervisor's Office for updated information on weather and road conditions. |
| Judith Station Day Use Area | Open | 2023: Water is not available |
| Jumping Creek Campground | Open | water available |
| Kading Cabin | Open | Cabin will be closed 6.10.24 to 10.04.24 for maintenance |
| Kading Campground | Open | |
| Kenck Cabin | Open | |
| Kings Hill Cabin | Open | Contact WSS Ranger District for current weather and road conditions |
| Kings Hill Campground | Open | No water available |
| Logging Creek Campground | Open | |
| Lost Horse Cabin | Open | |
| Many Pines Campground | Open | water available |
| Marias Pass Historic Site Interpretive Site | Open | |
| Meriwether Picnic Area | Closed | |
| Mill Falls Campground | Open | |
| Miller Cabin | Open | No firewood provided from June 1st - August 31. |
| Monument Peak Lookout | Closed | Call Ranger District or Supervisor's Office for updated weather and road conditions |
| Moose Creek Cabin | Open | |
| Moose Creek Campground | Open | water available |
| Moose Creek Campground - Little Belt Mountains | Open | |
| Mortimer Gulch Campground | Open | only continuous water supply as of 10/24/2023 |
| Nevada Creek Cabin | Open | |
| Park Lake Campground | Open | |
| Park Lake Day Use Area | Open | |
| Richardson Campground | Open | No drinking water available |
| Rillway Cabin | Open | |
| Silver Crest Winter Recreation Area | Open | closed for summer |
| Skidway Campground | Open | |
| South Fork Campground | Open | |
| South Fork Sun Trailhead | Open | |
| Spring Creek Campground | Open | no water available |
| Strawberry Lookout Cabin | Open | Non-motorized access only for last mile - 10/15 to 5/15 |
| Summit Campground | None | June 24-28 Campground will be closed so that new bathrooms can be installed. We anticipate campground will be open by Saturday, June 29. |
| Summit Trailhead | Open | |
| Ten Mile Picnic Area | Open | |
| Thain Creek Campground | Open | no water available |
| Thompson Guard Station | Closed | Winter access to the cabin is via a 4-mile stretch of road passable by snowmobile, snowshoe, skis or dog sled. |
| Timber Creek Dispersed Campground | Open | |
| Van Deriet Campground | Open | |
| Vigilante Campground | Open | |
| West Fork Cabin | Open | Contact the ranger district office for current weather and road conditions |
| West Fork Teton Campground | Open | |
| Wood Lake Campground | Open | |
| Wood Lake Picnic Site | Open |
Spotlights
Mann Gulch Trail
The Mann Gulch Trail is ~3.4 miles long. It begins in the Meriwether Picnic Site (near the Ranger Cabin) and extends to the upper end of Mann Gulch (T13N, R2W, Sec 8).
At the top of the ridge, take time to read the series of signs that detail the historic Mann Gulch Fire, a lightning-caused 1949 blaze that took the lives of 13 wildland firefighters.
In 2024, the CR Anderson Middle School Mann Gulch club successfully nominated the Mann Gulch Overlook Trail as a national recreation trail.
Highlights
- Hunters With Disabilities
These maps show access routes for hunters with disabilities that are licensed as required by the State of Montana. Access requirements and specifics are defined in the first page of this brochure.
