Helena-Lewis & Clark NF — Continental Divide Trail Corridor

The Continental Divide Trail crosses the Helena-Lewis & Clark NF for roughly 175 miles, and the rig-grade access reduces to a handful of developed loops where the trail intersects paved approaches. Park Lake, Cromwell Dixon, and Indian Flats serve the Helena Ranger District at 30-ft caps, all dry-camp, with the on-site dump at Park Lake. Aspen Grove and Logging Creek further north hit similar specs. Dispersed camping is broadly allowed under the HLC MVUM along Forest Service roads; the busiest pulls cluster off FSR 138 near MacDonald Pass. Snowpack and freeze-thaw close the high gravel approaches mid-October through early June. Grizzly bear protocol enforced on the Rocky Mountain Front (northern districts); black bear-only on the southern Big Belt and Castle Mountains. CDT thru-hiker resupply traffic peaks late July through early September.

Every fact on this page traces back to these primary sources.

• Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest — Forest recreation overviewfs.usda.gov
• Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest — Recreation area detailsfs.usda.gov
• Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest — Camping & cabins directoryfs.usda.gov