Montana Line
Montana Line Trail is a 20 miles trail in Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Montana and Idaho. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Idaho Panhandle National Forests official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 48.7848, -116.0979 · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 48.9254, -116.0256 · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 2 segments.
The trail
| Length | 20 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Trail numbers | 44 |
| Forest | Idaho Panhandle National Forests (unit 0104) |
| States | Montana, Idaho |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed 06/01 to 09/30 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed 06/01 to 09/30 (month/day) |
| Mountain biking | Allowed 06/01 to 09/30 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- WildfireUpper Smith
28 mi from the trail midpoint · 4,848 acres · 41% contained
- WildfireParker Lake
28 mi from the trail midpoint · 1,531 acres · 0% contained
- WildfireSilver
32 mi from the trail midpoint · 2,593 acres · 30% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Montana Line Trail?
20 miles, the sum of the 2 segments the Forest Service records under this name in Idaho Panhandle National Forests.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Montana Line Trail?
hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Montana Line Trail start?
The line begins at 48.7848, -116.0979 and ends at 48.9254, -116.0256. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Montana Line Trail in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Montana Line Trail?
Solomon Lake Fishing (0.7 mi), Deer Ridge Lookout (2.9 mi) and Meadow Creek Campground (3.3 mi) are within five miles of the trail. Site counts and booking links are on Campsite Atlas.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Montana Line Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Montana Line Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Montana Line Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Montana Line Trail?
Idaho Panhandle National Forests, Forest Service unit 0104. The trail is in Montana and Idaho.
Is there a fire near the Montana Line Trail?
3 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-09-18, the nearest Upper Smith at 28 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 2 segments named MONTANA LINE in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0104. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed September 17, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.