Until Further Notice: Montana FWP Site Status, Fall 2026

Fourteen Montana FWP sites are flagged right now, and the pattern holds: it’s mostly maintenance, construction, and post-flood/post-fire cleanup rather than “stay home.” Only Brogan’s Landing is fully closed — the other thirteen are either open with a caution or reachable another way (walk in, bank fish, or use the open portion). Two new wrinkles from this batch: Tarkio East isn’t actually restricted (the closure is on the road and trail past it), and Whitebird went walk-in-only a year ago because its bridge is failing. Everything runs “until further notice,” so verify before you load up.

The one full closure

• Brogan’s Landing (Park, Region 3) — emergency closure since July 2022 from flooding: failing infrastructure, impassable roads. Skip it.

Advisories — go, but pay attention

• Boulder Forks (Sweet Grass, Region 5) — a low-clearance work bridge spans the Boulder River. Small craft can portage around it on either bank; big boats are the problem.
• Sluice Boxes (Cascade, Region 4) — new rock obstacles in Belt Creek plus trail obstructions along the creek.
• Springdale Bridge (Park, Region 3) — reopened in April 2022 after a wildfire, but stay out of the burned area (stump holes) and away from the slash pile. No firewood cutting or scavenging.

Partial closures — access is trimmed, not gone

• Whitebird (Stillwater, Region 5) — the bridge to the site has damaged decking and substructure, unsafe for vehicles. Walk-in only until repairs happen; FWP is still figuring out a fix.
• Tarkio East (Mineral, Region 2) — the FAS itself is open. What’s closed is Old Highway 10 West just past the entrance, plus the pedestrian bridge, the kayaker trail to the Triple Bridges surf wave, and the land between highway and east bank — through fall 2027 for bridge construction.
• Thompson Chain-of-Lakes (Flathead/Lincoln/Sanders, Region 1) — fuels-reduction thinning underway, contractor moving unit to unit with signs marking active logging. Runs through winter.
• Duck Creek Bridge (Yellowstone, Region 5) — boat launch closed to motorized vehicles; walk in past it and you’re fine.
• Fort Peck Dredge Cut Pond (Valley, Region 6) — access trail over the dike south of the boat ramp is closed after significant sloughing.
• Milltown (Missoula, Region 2) — construction is cutting the Gateway Trail between the Confluence and Gateway areas.
• Sportsmans Bridge (Flathead, Region 1) — boat ramp rebuild on the Flathead near Bigfork; expect disruption while water is low.
• Snowden Bridge (Richland, Region 6) — no boat ramp and limited camping after April flooding, but bank fishing works.
• Shed’s Bridge (Gallatin, Region 3) — northwest corner permanently closed for an unstable bank; walk-in from the southeast and the east-side point still get you there.
• Elkhorn (Jefferson, Region 3) — Gillian Hall shut ~3 weeks for foundation work; Fraternity Hall stays open.

If you’re still unsure or want more information, you check out closures and restrictions here on the Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks website.