Lolo National Forest OHV

Clancy OHV Area is a 5,800-acre BLM riding facility in Jefferson County, approximately 10 miles south of Helena, Montana, accessed via I-15 South to Exit 182 and Sheep Mountain Road. The area features 11 miles of professionally designed and signed loop trails through ponderosa pine forest on hard-packed dirt with some sandy sections — a contained, beginner-through-intermediate system that contrasts with the vast dispersed riding of the surrounding Helena-area BLM lands. Motorcycles, ATVs, and UTVs up to 50 inches wide are the primary permitted vehicle classes; full-size 4x4 vehicles are not permitted on the OHV trail loops. The compact 5,800-acre footprint with 11 miles of signed loops creates a very different riding experience from the larger dispersed-riding areas — this is a structured system appropriate for families, newer riders learning trail etiquette, and those wanting a known-quality trail experience rather than open-ended exploration. No entry fee; the area is open year-round with trails accessible whenever weather and ground conditions permit. The Helena proximity makes Clancy a frequent after-work and weekend destination for Lewis and Clark County riders. Contact the BLM Helena Field Office (406-255-2888) for current conditions and parking information.

Custer Gallatin National Forest's Bozeman Ranger District manages OHV trail access on the east side of the Bridger Range and into the Bangtail Mountains north of Bozeman in Gallatin County, Montana — mountain terrain visible from downtown Bozeman that offers a dramatic alpine and subalpine riding environment within 30 minutes of the city. The Bangtail Divide trail system and the Jackson Creek ATV corridor are the primary OHV-designated areas, with trails following old logging roads and purpose-built routes through mixed lodgepole and spruce-fir forest. Elevation ranges from approximately 5,000 feet in the valleys to over 8,000 feet on Bangtail Ridge, where high-country views extend across the Gallatin Valley and toward Yellowstone. OHV widths are restricted to 50 inches on designated trails. Motor Vehicle Use Maps from the Bozeman Ranger District office (406-522-2520) are essential for navigation — the trail network is distributed across a broad landscape and not all roads in the area are open to motorized travel. Seasonal snow keeps upper-elevation trails closed until late June most years; fall riding through mid-October offers the most reliable conditions and spectacular larch color. Contact the Bozeman Ranger District for current seasonal access.

Pipestone OHV Area is a 30,000-acre BLM travel management area in Silver Bow County, approximately 15 miles east of Butte, Montana, accessed via I-90 Exit 241 and the Pipestone area roads. The area offers approximately 75 miles of developed OHV riding trails through a landscape shaped by both natural geology and historical mining — hard-rock mining in the Butte area produced tailings, bench cuts, and altered drainage patterns now partially revegetated and woven into the trail network. Trail terrain includes rolling hills, rocky two-track roads through mixed conifer and shrubland, and a dedicated hill climb area with constructed jump terrain that draws competitive and freestyle riders from across the region. Difficulty ranges from beginner-accessible wide gravel roads to advanced technical routes on steeper terrain with loose surface conditions. ATVs, UTVs, motorcycles, and 4x4 vehicles are all permitted; no entry fee. Camping is available at the Four Corners Trailhead within the riding area. The Butte area's copper-mining legacy gives the surrounding landscape an unusual visual character — reddened soils, historic mine structures, and reclaimed areas mix with natural sage and pine terrain. Contact the BLM Butte Field Office (406-533-7600) for current conditions and trail maps.