Blacktail – Wild Bill National Blacktail – Wild Bill National ORV Recreation Trail ProjectORV Recreation Trail Project

A US Forest Service and Skyliners A US Forest Service and Skyliners 4X4 Club Partnership Project4X4 Club Partnership Project

Blacktail – Wild BillBlacktail – Wild Bill

Located north of Lake Mary Ronan and Located north of Lake Mary Ronan and west of Flathead Lake.west of Flathead Lake.

Designated National ORV Recreation Trail Designated National ORV Recreation Trail in the 1970s.in the 1970s.

Goal is to develop world-class destination Goal is to develop world-class destination Jeep trail.Jeep trail.

Design GuidelinesDesign Guidelines

Develop Class 3.5 to 4 4x4 trailDevelop Class 3.5 to 4 4x4 trailChallenges designed for modified 4x4 Challenges designed for modified 4x4

vehicles (not suitable for firewood cutters).vehicles (not suitable for firewood cutters).Each challenge needs a 52-inch wide by-Each challenge needs a 52-inch wide by-

pass for recreational ATV riders.pass for recreational ATV riders. Incorporate drainage structures as Incorporate drainage structures as

directed by FS.directed by FS.

Design Guidelines continuedDesign Guidelines continued

Trailheads need challenge features to Trailheads need challenge features to discourage inappropriate vehicle usediscourage inappropriate vehicle use

Information signs located about 100 feet Information signs located about 100 feet past trailhead to reduce vandalismpast trailhead to reduce vandalism

More info: Andrew Johnson at Swan Lake More info: Andrew Johnson at Swan Lake Ranger District Ranger District

Original trailheadOriginal trailhead

Bypassing trailhead challengeBypassing trailhead challenge

Challenge construction – Challenge construction – pre-position big rockspre-position big rocks

Challenge construction – Challenge construction – Dig base for rockDig base for rock

Challenge construction –Challenge construction –Place big rocksPlace big rocks

Challenge construction – Challenge construction – Backfill and tamp to stabilize rocksBackfill and tamp to stabilize rocks

Challenge construction –Challenge construction –Almost doneAlmost done

Challenge construction –Challenge construction –Place natural barriers to keep rigs Place natural barriers to keep rigs

on the trailon the trail

The view…The view…

Gravel WaterbarGravel Waterbar

Starting New SignStarting New Sign

Completed New SignCompleted New Sign

Another ChallengeAnother Challenge

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Much easier to start with a bad road and Much easier to start with a bad road and enhance the challenges than to start with enhance the challenges than to start with a decent road like this and build all the a decent road like this and build all the challenges.challenges.

Need planning and coordination. Location Need planning and coordination. Location and design of challenges was left up to and design of challenges was left up to volunteers, creating much confusion.volunteers, creating much confusion.

Lessons LearnedLessons Learned

Start at the farthest challenge and work Start at the farthest challenge and work back towards the source of rocks and back towards the source of rocks and gravel so heavy equipment can have gravel so heavy equipment can have decent access.decent access.

Use of partnership rather than volunteers Use of partnership rather than volunteers took liability off FS, allowed work to be took liability off FS, allowed work to be done without a bunch of mandatory FS done without a bunch of mandatory FS training.training.