Wilderness trails re-opening as fire activity slows

Fire danger remains high on Flathead National Forest

Fire conditions in the Bob Marshall Wilderness have improved enough over the past week to allow some trails to re-open. Area closures remain in place where there is still fire activity and in recently burned areas for public safety.

While trails are re-opening due to reduced fire activity, all forest users are reminded that the fire danger on the Flathead Forest remains high. Backcountry travelers should be prepared to alter trip plans in the event of increasing fire activity on existing fires as well as potential new fire starts. Everyone is asked to be extremely careful with all flammable materials and to make sure camp-fires are dead out.

Trails that reopened over the Sept. 8-9 weekend include:

• Smith Creek and Little Salmon Creek trails No. 29 are open to Smith Creek Pass.

• The Danaher Meadows area is now open, with the exceptions of Bar Creek Trail No. 140, upper Rapid Creek Trail No. 139, and Spring Creek, which will remain closed to travel and camping.

• Access to the Danaher Meadows area is allowed via the Dry Fork Divide and Danaher Creek Trail No. 126, and Limestone Pass and Limestone Creek Trail No. 143.

• The Basin Creek area is open to travel and camping, with the exception of Stadler Creek Trail No. 271 east of its junction with the Trap Mountain Trail No. 267.

• White River Pass via Molly Creek Trail No. 138 and Indian Creek Trail No. 211 are now open.

• The South Fork of the White River is closed south of Trail No. 138.

• Haystack Mountain Trail No. 626 is now open.

For more fire information, refer to the updated map on Inciweb for the Prisoner Lake and Elbow Pass fires online at http://inciweb.org. For trip planning, contact one of the following ranger districts: Swan Lake, 406-837-7500; Spotted Bear, 406-758-5376; Seeley Lake, 406-677-2233; and Rocky Mountain, 406-466-5341.