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| Home > Montana > Blacktail Wild Bill |
Blacktail Wild Bill OHV Trail System
Saturday, December 23, 2023
| Other Names | Flathead National Forest, Swan Lake Island Unit, Swan Lake Ranger District, Blacktail Mountain Ski Area, Black Tail |
| Last Known Status | Open |
Designed mainly for 4x4s, this trail system is open to all vehicle types. The trail system offers a nice mix of gravel roads, hardpack, and soft soil with occasional chunk rock plus light to moderate elevation changes. Scattered obstacles have been added throughout the trail system for those looking for an additional challenge (bypass segments have been added for beginners).
The trail system has three designated staging areas. There is no fee charged for parking or camping but space is limited. Wild Bill Trailhead has a little more turnaround room for those with trailers.
The area offers great mountain views and scenic vistas of the surrounding lakes. The trails are open year-round but the best time to visit is during the fall months.
The Skyliners 4WD Club has been actively maintaining these trails since the 70's, so be sure to tell them thanks for all their hard work.
REGULATIONS
| Permit Required | Yes | Montana OHV Permit |
| Dates Open | Year-Round | |
| 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 | No Restriction | |
 Motorcycles & Dirt Bikes | Permitted | |
 ATVs | Permitted | |
 UTV & SXS | Permitted | |
 4x4 & Jeeps (registered) | Permitted | |
| Dune Buggy & Sand Rail 4x4 (unregistered) | Permitted | |
| 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 | (camp in developed sites only) |
 Campfires | ||
| Night Riding | Unknown | |
| Trail Blazing | Prohibited | stay on trail |
| Rule Enforcement |
TERRAIN
| Approx Size | 42,000 acres (66 sq mi) | |
| Miles Of Trail | 23 | |
| Climate Type | Forest | |
| Elevation | 3500 to 6000 ft. | |
| Trail Maintenance | Marked, Not Rated, Lightly Maintained | |
| Loose Dirt |  Mostly | |
| Hard Pack |  Little | |
| Sand |  None | |
| Mud |  Some | |
| Dust | Little | |
| Rocks | Mostly | |
| Trees |  All | |
| Steep Hills | Some | |
| Small Jumps | None | |
| Large Jumps | None | |
| Berms | None | |
| Sand/Gravel Pits | None | |
| Single Track | None | |
| Intersections | Some | |
| Rider Traffic |  Few | |
| Hazards | Few | (hazards assumed marked but use caution) |
 Novice | Little | |
 Amateur | Mostly | |
 Expert | Some |
TYPE OF AREA
| Area | Motorized Trails |
| Land | National Forest |
KEY SERVICES
 Gasoline | 5-20 Miles (NE) | Exxon (406) 857-2344 |
| Diesel | 5-20 Miles (NE) | Exxon (406) 857-2344 |
 Water | 5-20 Miles (E) | Edgewater RV Resort and Motel (406) 844-3644 or (800) 424-3798 |
 RV Hookup | 5-20 Miles (E) | Edgewater RV Resort and Motel (406) 844-3644 or (800) 424-3798 |
 RV Disposal | 5-20 Miles (E) | Edgewater RV Resort and Motel (406) 844-3644 or (800) 424-3798 |
| Campground | 5-20 Miles (N) | Lake Mary Ronan State Park (406) 849-5082 |
 Conv Store | 5-20 Miles (NE) | Exxon (406) 857-2344 |
FEES & PASSES
| Parking | (None) |
| Entry | (None) |
| Riding | (None) |
| Camping | (None) |
RATINGS
| Our Rating |  Good |
| Recommended Stay | 1-2 Days |
| Comments | (Scroll Down For Rider Reviews & Comments) |
DRIVING DIRECTIONS
| Nearest City | Lakeside, MT | ||
| Address | Blacktail Road, Kila, MT 59920 | ||
| From: Lakeside, MT
For The Blacktail Trailhead: 1) Take Blacktail Road West about 12 miles 2) Staging area is on the left. For The Wild Bill Trailhead: 3) From Hwy 2 turn south on Kila Road, continue 1.8 miles 4) Turn left (south-east) on Smith Lake Road, continue .2 miles 5) Turn right (south) on Browns Mountain Road, continue 1 mile 6) Turn left (south-east) on Truman Creek Road, continue 2.3 miles 7) After pavement ends turn right on Wild Bill Road, continue 2.7 miles 8) Turn left (east) on a seemingly private driveway, continue .1 miles 9) Trailhead is on the right (south). |
OFFICIAL CONTACTS
| Contact Info | Flathead National Forest - Supervisor's Office 650 Wolfpack Way Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 758-5208 mailroom_r1_flathead@fs.fed.us www.fs.usda.gov |
| Contact Info | Skyliners 4 Wheel Drive Club skyliners@skyliners4x4.com |
| 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 |
Blacktail Wild Bill Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 12/1/2013 (Thanks!)
Blacktail Wild Bill Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 12/1/2013 (Thanks!)
Blacktail Wild Bill Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 10/14/2018 (Thanks!)
Blacktail Wild Bill Trail Photo
Photo Submitted 12/1/2013 (Thanks!)
RIDER COMMENTS & REVIEWS