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Off-Trail Travel Limited in Glacier Park for Wildlife Protection

By Beacon Staff

Glacier National Park officials are reminding visitors that off-trail travel through critical winter range areas is prohibited through May 15 in an effort to protect wildlife. Travel is limited to designated trails throughout specific areas in the North Fork, Lake McDonald and St. Mary districts of the park.

This restriction is intended to protect wintering ungulates such as deer, elk, moose and sheep from disturbance. Limiting human-use to designated trails will help protect the animals during the critical winter and spring months, a release from the park said.

Off-trail use is prohibited between Dec. 1-May 15 each year. Signs are posted at public access points in these locations.

In the North Fork area, the protection area is between the North Fork of the Flathead River and the North Fork Road south of Logging Creek and north of Dutch Creek. Other areas protected include: further south along the North Fork of the Flathead River; the winter range immediately east of the river from Big Creek south through Great Northern Flats; and the Apgar Mountains area.

In the Lake McDonald area, the restriction entails the Belton Hills area along the Middle Fork of the Flathead River corridor On the east side of the park, the winter range protection areas include the St. Mary, Two Dog Flats and Rising Sun areas.

Specific information about protected areas is offered through narrative and maps in the Glacier National Park 2012 Compendium which is located on the park’s website by clicking on park management, laws and policies.