Glacier View Ranger District opens area for firewood

Starting Sept. 18, the Glacier View Ranger District of Flathead National Forest will open approximately 7.5 miles of road for personal-use firewood gathering in the McGinnis Creek drainage.

This will allow temporary access for firewood cutting on roads that are normally used for administrative purposes. The area will be open from daybreak Sept. 18 until midnight Oct. 13.

Roads to be opened are No. 5224 (Depuy Ridge) and No. 5224D and No. 5224E that are behind the gate on Road 5224. These roads are accessed from the McGinnis Creek Road No. 803 approximately 7 miles in from the North Fork Road.

A Forest Service personal-use firewood permit is required and is available for a minimum of four cords of firewood for $20.

Woodcutters must have their permits with them while collecting wood and fill them out as required.

For more information on permits, visit www.fs.usda.gov/detail/flathead/passes-permits. 

The area will be monitored by Forest Service personnel, as in previous years. Resource damage, such as the loss of marked trees, road damage or the creation of unsafe conditions could result in the closure of this area for firewood cutting.

Information about the woodcutting area as well as firewood permits is available from the Hungry Horse Ranger District Office, (406) 387-3800.