Quick Tips
- Be grizzly bear aware, restrictions apply for food containers, keep a clean campsite
- Remove moose quarters as quickly as possible
- Great trout fishing Middle Fork Flathead River
On The Ground
This hunting district is found just south of Glacier National Park and U.S. Highway 2. Thousands of acres of public lands are provided by Lewis and Clark National Forest and Flathead National Forest including portions of Great Bear and Bob Marshall Wilderness. The Middle Fork of the Flathead River runs through the middle of the southern two-thirds of the area. Moose densities are decent here but the vast area can make initially locating them a challenge.
Wilderness areas are remote so preparation is critical to reach the remote back country, and even more difficult to transport hundreds of pounds of meat, cape and horns back to the trailhead. This can be an incredible hunt but hunters need to well prepared for the challenges.
Terrain
The Flathead Range is on the western edge, and the Lewis and Clark Range runs north and south near the eastern boundary. The Continental Divide runs between Lewis and Clark and Flathead National Forest at elevations over 8,000 feet. The headwaters of Middle Fork Flathead River is near Gooseberry Park and is joined by many creeks as it flows towards the confluence with North Fork Flathead River. Majestic John F. Stevens Canyon was created by the Middle Fork. The entire district consists of steep mountains and deep drainages and cross country travel can be very difficult.
Roughly 575 square miles
98.7% public land
Elevations from 3,300-8,900 feet
Vegetation
Alpine meadows with a variety of wildflowers, moss and lichens with some clusters of barren ground willows can be found along the Continental Divide and other mountainous ridges. The river bottoms are densely forested with pine, spruce, fir and willows. Some south facing slopes have open grassy meadows and mountain shrubs. Old clear cuts support new growth of forest and offers great forage.
Access
Forest Service roads and trails offer hundreds of miles of access. One of the longest trails follows the Middle Fork Flathead River from Nimrod along U.S. Highway 2 to Teton Pass some 25 miles south. Trailheads are spread out across the district to allow for hiking or horseback travel into the isolated back country. An adventurous hunter can find old clear cuts on National Forest by following a system of old logging roads.
Four-wheel drives recommended on Forest Service roads
Chains recommended during heavy snowfall
Camping and Lodging
Dispersed camping with wilderness areas is restricted to 14 days. Check with Lewis and Clark and Flathead National Forest offices for details on developed campgrounds. West Glacier is the closest community providing motels and lodges, cafés and restaurants and gas and diesel. The town of Browning is some twenty miles east of Marias Pass along the Continental Divide and offers a limited number of motels, RV camping, cafés and restaurants, regional medical facility and 24/7 gas and diesel.
Historical Temperatures
High
Low
Moon Phases
April 2025
30
31
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
21
22
23
24
25
26
27
28
29
30
1
2
3