The wheeled motorized vehicle closure on National Forest System Road (NFSR)#2004 (Hellroaring Road), located approximately 10 miles south of Red Lodge and providing access to the Hell Roaring Plateau Trailhead, has been extended, from August 1, 2025 through September 30, 2025 for public safety due to equipment use during bridge installation on the Beartooth Ranger District of the Custer Gallatin National Forest.
This bridge is being replaced to restore access to the Hellroaring Plateau that was lost during the 2022 flood event that affected the Greater Yellowstone Region. This closure will continue to facilitate bridge installation and provide for public safety while this critical work is completed.
The motorized road closure order number #01-11-82-25-04 is effective from August 1, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. through September 30, 2025 at 8:00 a.m. The affected area includes NFSR #2004 (Hellroaring Road) from the junction with NFSR #2241 (Glacier Lake Road) to the road terminus as shown on the attached map. During this period, use of wheeled motorized vehicles on Hellroaring Road is prohibited to ensure safety during ongoing reconstruction and bridge installation activities.
While Hellroaring Road is closed, we encourage visitors to explore other open areas nearby such as Main Fork Rock Creek Road NFSR#2421, Lake Fork trail #2, and West Fork of Rock Creek Road NFSR #2071.
“The safety of visitors and workers remains our top priority as we continue essential bridge installation work on Hellroaring Road,” said Amy Haas, Beartooth District Ranger. “Flood recovery has been a long process, and we appreciate the public’s continued patience as we work to complete these improvements. Contracting timelines can shift and working in mountain conditions can be unpredictable but we are dedicated to completing this work safely. We look forward to reopening the road and encourage visitors to explore the many other beautiful areas of the Custer Gallatin National Forest in the meantime.”
For more information and current conditions, please visit the Custer Gallatin National Forest website or contact the Beartooth Ranger District at (406) 446-2103 or the Custer Gallatin National Forest Supervisor’s Office at (406) 587-6701.
About the Forest Service: The USDA Forest Service has for more than 100 years brought people and communities together to answer the call of conservation. Grounded in world-class science and technology– and rooted in communities–the Forest Service connects people to nature and to each other. The Forest Service cares for shared natural resources in ways that promote lasting economic, ecological, and social vitality. The agency manages 193 million acres of public land, provides assistance to state and private landowners, maintains the largest wildland fire and forestry research organizations in the world. The Forest Service also has either a direct or indirect role in stewardship of about 900 million forested acres within the U.S., of which over 130 million acres are urban forests where most Americans live.
Source: Gallatin National Forest
Photo: Pixabay
