SEELEY LAKE, MT – The North Fork Cabin bridge that provides access over the North Fork of the Blackfoot River, near the North Fork Cabin on Trail 32 in the Scapegoat Wilderness, will be replaced beginning on July 22, 2019. Due to the new bridge reconstruction, a trail closure will be in effect July 22, 2019 – through Sept. 15, 2019. To avoid the closure during this timeframe, please utilize a flagged reroute on Trail 364, which includes a river ford, to bypass the closure. This reroute will take visitors around the bridge construction, the North Fork Cabin and the contractor’s worksite.

“We appreciate the public’s cooperation during this temporary closure and reroute,” said Quinn Carver, Seeley Lake District Ranger. “The reconstruction was designed to lessen impacts to the public and open the bridge and trail again as quickly as possible.”

The Seeley Lake Ranger District was approved for an exemption to fly building materials into the worksite via helicopter (flights will be limited to one day, tentatively July 29), which is located in the Scapegoat Wilderness. Flying materials into the site will lessen impacts of the construction duration on the travel corridor, and cut down pack trips necessary to transport materials for employee safety. Trail 32 is a major travel corridor for outfitters, guides and the public. The goal of the District is to be complete with the project ahead of the majority of hunting season.

Accordingly, if the project is completed ahead of September 15, 2019 the closure will lift early. For more information please contact the Seeley Lake Ranger District at 406-677-2233.