Public comment period for PNT Draft Comprehensive Plan and Environmental Assessment

T26-T3-PNT Intersection Sign, July 11, 2020 - W. K. Walker

T26-T3-PNT Intersection Sign, July 11, 2020 – W. K. Walker

From the official press release . . .

Portland, Ore. (March 16, 2023) – The USDA Forest Service has announced the launch of the public review and comment period for the draft comprehensive plan (CP) for the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNT) and its associated environmental assessment (EA). The 30-day comment period will begin today.

Continue reading . . .

The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNT) runs through the North Fork from the Polebridge area westbound along trails 3 and 26 to Mt. Locke where it drops off the Whitefish Divide into the Kootenai National Forest.

Glacier View & Hungry Horse trail condition reports for October posted

Chain Lake Trail #377 Trailhead, June 25, 2022 - W. K. Walker

Chain Lake Trail #377 Trailhead, June 25, 2022 – W. K. Walker

The October 2022 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

The current fire danger is MODERATE.

US officials seek public comment on Pacific Northwest Trail upgrades

T26-T3-PNT Intersection Sign, July 11, 2020 - W. K. Walker

T26-T3-PNT Intersection Sign, July 11, 2020 – W. K. Walker

The Forest Service is getting serious making in improvements to the PNT . . .

U.S. officials are taking a big step involving a 1,200-mile (1,900-kilometer) hiking trail stretching from the Continental Divide to the Pacific Ocean.

The U.S. Forest Service is accepting comments through Oct. 30 on a comprehensive plan for the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail, which starts in Glacier National Park in Montana, crosses through northern Idaho and finishes in Olympic National Park in Washington.

The Forest Service wants to complete the plan by late 2023. It’s a key document that will give state, federal and tribal land managers a guide for developing the non-motorized trail throughout its entire length. Currently, about a third of the trail is on roads and some portions in remote areas require bushwhacking with no trail.

“I love what it could be,” said Jeff Kish, executive director for the Pacific Northwest Trail Association. “The bones are there, but we still have to flesh it out.”

Read more . . .

Glacier View & Hungry Horse trail condition reports for September 28 posted

Lunchtime, Coal Ridge Wilderness Walk, July 16, 2022 - W. K. Walker

Lunchtime, Coal Ridge Wilderness Walk, July 16, 2022 – W. K. Walker

The September 28, 2022 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

The current fire danger is MODERATE.

NOTICE: Due to the Weasel Fire, the following trails are closed:
Thoma-Tuchuck #19
Tuchuck Ridge #114
Tuchuck Creek #23
Review Mountain #113

Spotted Bear District trail conditions report for Sep 11 posted

The Spotted Bear River near the ranger station - Michael Hodge

The Spotted Bear River near the ranger station – Michael Hodge

The Sep 11, 2022 Forest Service Trail Conditions Report for the Spotted Bear Ranger District has been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

Trail reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

Current closures include:
– Dean Creek Fire – Trail 87
– Canon Creek Fire – Trails 115, 218, 226, 493 and 693
– George Lake Fire — Trail 135
– Ursus Fire — Trails 139, 272 and 273
For updates on the Fires and closures please go to InciWeb.

The current fire danger for the Spotted Bear District is HIGH.

Spotted Bear District trail conditions report for Aug 25 posted

The Spotted Bear River near the ranger station - Michael Hodge

The Spotted Bear River near the ranger station – Michael Hodge

The Aug 25, 2022 Forest Service Trail Conditions Report for the Spotted Bear Ranger District has been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

Trail reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

Current closures include:
– Dean Creek Fire – Trail 87
– Canon Creek Fire – Trails 115, 218, 226, 493 and 693
For updates on the Fires and closures please go to InciWeb.

The current fire danger for the Spotted Bear District is VERY HIGH.

Glacier View & Hungry Horse trail condition reports for August 25 posted

Brushing out along Hay Creek Trail #3, July 9, 2022 - W. K. Walker

Brushing out along Hay Creek Trail #3, July 9, 2022 – W. K. Walker

The August 25, 2022 Forest Service Trail Condition Reports for the Glacier View and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts have been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

These reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

The current fire danger is VERY HIGH.

NOTICE: Due to the Weasel Fire, the following trails are closed:
Thoma-Tuchuck #19
Tuchuck Ridge #114
Tuchuck Creek #23
Review Mountain #113
Trail Creek Road #114 is also closed to ALL unauthorized use as of August 22, 2022, for much needed road maintenance. The road work runs from 3 miles west of the junction of Trail Creek Road and the North Fork Road to Trail Creek Road’s junction with Road #319 on the Kootenai National Forest. This work is anticipated to take up to 4 weeks to complete.

Hay Creek Trail No. 3 cleared

T26-T3-PNT Intersection Sign, July 11, 2020 - W. K. Walker

T26-T3-PNT Intersection Sign, July 11, 2020 – W. K. Walker

On August 11, North Fork Trails finished clearing Hay Creek Trail #3. This completes the work started in this drainage about a month ago when we cleared the west end of this stretch of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail (PNT).

Spotted Bear District trail conditions report for Aug 11 posted

The Spotted Bear River near the ranger station - Michael Hodge

The Spotted Bear River near the ranger station – Michael Hodge

The Aug 11, 2022 Forest Service Trail Conditions Report for the Spotted Bear Ranger District has been posted to the website Trail Conditions page.

Trail reports contain a fair amount of useful information. Besides trail conditions, they include trail numbers, their official names and end-to-end mileages. The reports may also list information on trail and area closures, especially during fire season.

The current fire danger for the Spotted Bear District is VERY HIGH.