The Bitterroot National Forest is opening four designated roads beginning Monday for residents seeking personal use firewood this summer, with permits now available through a new online system at no cost.

Which Roads Are Open

Two roads fall within the Darby/Sula Ranger District: Forest Road 73365 (Comm Site) and Forest Road 73234 (Shirley Mountain). The West Fork Ranger District is opening Forest Road 49 (Castle Creek) and Forest Road 13417 (Devil Creek).

All four roads opened June 15 and are scheduled to remain accessible through October 15, though fire conditions or administrative decisions by the District Ranger could prompt earlier closures at any time. The two West Fork roads — Castle Creek and Devil Creek — are already set for an early closure on August 28.

Permits and Gathering Rules

Personal firewood gathering on the Bitterroot National Forest is free of charge, with permits issued through the forest’s new E-Permit system online. Permits are valid through December 31, 2026, and households may gather up to 12 cords per year for personal use.

The forest service requires woodcutters to carry a shovel, a bucket, and a fire extinguisher while working. Chainsaws must be equipped with spark arresters. Gatherers may not fell trees onto roadways, and all slash must be piled after cutting.

Firewood collection is prohibited in developed recreation areas, campgrounds, and within 150 feet of any stream, creek, or waterway. Law enforcement will be monitoring the designated roads throughout the season.

What’s Next

Residents planning to gather firewood before the summer season ends should note the shorter window on the West Fork roads, which close at the end of August rather than mid-October. Anyone intending to gather later in the fall should focus on the Darby/Sula District roads, which remain open longer barring fire-related closures.

Wildfire conditions across western Montana will be a key variable determining how long these roads stay accessible. The region has seen heightened attention to land management decisions in 2026, including ongoing questions about the future of hydroelectric infrastructure on the Flathead and federal environmental remediation work in Billings. On public lands, timber and resource access decisions increasingly carry both practical and political weight as communities seek reliable access to affordable resources.

Those interested in obtaining a firewood permit can do so through the Bitterroot National Forest’s E-Permit portal before heading out.