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| Home > Montana > Blue Mountain |
Blue Mountain Recreation Area
Saturday, December 23, 2023
| Other Names | Lolo National Forest, Missoula Ranger District, Missoula Valley, Sapphire Mountains, Rattlesnake Mountains, Hayes Creek, Steelman Creek, Blue Mountain Saddle, Bitterroot River |
| Last Known Status | Closed For Season |
This part of the Lolo National Forest has about 14.5 miles of motorized trails open to dirt bikes with around four miles open to ATV use. The single track trails are mostly smooth and fast and are well maintained.
The area offers panoramic views of the Sapphire and Rattlesnake Mountains however to get the most out this trail system you would need to bring a mountain bike to explore the remaining twenty miles of non-motorized trails. Large trailers are not recommended due to limited space at the staging area.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | Yes | Montana OHV Permit |
| Dates Open | May 1 - November 30 | |
| Other ATV Stickers Accepted | No | A non-resident temporary registration sticker is required. (As of March 2020, Montana no longer honors stickers from any other states.) |
| Spark Arrestor | Yes | A spark arresting exhaust silencer or end cap is required for all vehicles. |
| Noise Limit | Yes (96 dB) | |
| Whip Flags | Not Required | |
| Maximum Vehicle Width | Yes (50 inches) | |
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | |
 ATVs | Some Areas | (maximum width 50 inches) |
 UTV & SXS | Some Areas | (maximum width 50 inches) |
 4x4 & Jeeps (registered) | Prohibited | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Prohibited | |
| 2 Stroke Engines | No Restriction | |
| MX Helmet Required | Youth Only | required for persons under 18 by state law (RiderPlanet strongly recommends helmets for all riders.) |
 Camping | Some Areas | permitted in the west area |
 Campfires | ||
| Night Riding | No | |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | stay on trail |
| Rule Enforcement |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails |
| Land | National Forest |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | (None) |
RATINGS
| Our Rating |  Good |
| Recommended Stay | Full Day |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Missoula, MT | ||
| From: Missoula, MT
1) Take US-93 South about 2 miles 2) Turn right (north) onto Blue Mountain Road, continue .6 miles 3) Turn right (north) to stay on Blue Mountain Road, continue .7 miles 4) Turn left (west) onto Forest Service Road 365, continue 2.7 miles 5) Staging area is on the left (south). |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | Lolo National Forest - Missoula Ranger District Fort Missoula Bldg. 24 Missoula, MT 59804 (406) 329-3814 mailroom_r1_lolo@fs.fed.us www.fs.usda.gov |
| Contact Info | Montana Fish, Wildlife And Parks 1420 East 6th Avenue Helena, MT 59620-0701 (406) 444-2950 fwpgen@mt.gov fwp.mt.gov |
| Comment | Montana OHV Permit Info |
Blue Mountain Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 7/14/2019 (Thanks!)
Blue Mountain Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 9/13/2015 (Thanks!)
ADD PHOTOS
TERRAIN
| Approx Size | 4,900 acres (8 sq mi) | |
| Miles Of Trail | 18 | |
| Climate Type | Forest | |
| Elevation | 3900 to 5500 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Marked, Not Rated, Heavily Maintained | |
| Loose Dirt |  Mostly | |
| Hard Pack |  Little | |
| Sand |  None | |
| Mud | Little | |
| Dust | Little | |
| Rocks | Little | |
| Trees |  All | |
| Steep Hills |  Few | |
| Water Crossings | None | |
| Small Jumps | None | |
| Large Jumps | None | |
| Berms |  Many | |
| Sand/Gravel Pits | None | |
| Single Track | Many | |
| Roads | None | |
| Intersections |  Some | |
| Rider Traffic | Some | |
| Shade | Many | |
| Hazards | Few | (hazards assumed marked but use caution) |
 Novice | Mostly | |
 Amateur | Some | |
 Expert | None |
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 1-5 Miles (NE) | Fast Trip Gas Station (406) 829-9000 |
| Diesel | 1-5 Miles (NE) | Fast Trip Gas Station (406) 829-9000 |
 Water | 1-5 Miles (N) | Missoula KOA (406) 549-0881 |
 RV Hookup | 1-5 Miles (N) | Missoula KOA (406) 549-0881 |
 RV Disposal | 1-5 Miles (N) | Missoula KOA (406) 549-0881 |
| Campground | 1-5 Miles (N) | Missoula KOA (406) 549-0881 |
 Conv Store | 1-5 Miles (NE) | Fast Trip Gas Station (406) 829-9000 |
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS