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MONTANA 4x4 TRAIL GUIDE · MT-0058

Black Canyon Ridge Road (FS 3932)

Forest Road 3932 via Everson Creek Road · Beaverhead Mountains · Lemhi Pass area near Grant, Montana
3/10AGF Difficulty · Easy · estimate; no record of AGF driving it
~6–6.5 MIOne way from the Everson junction, approximate; verify by odometer
EAST: STOPDo not go east; if you do, never past BLM's turnaround (approx. 44.8653, -113.32607)
USFS · BLMBeaverhead-Deerlodge NF · BLM Dillon Field Office
THIS GUIDE TURNS AROUND ON THE RIDGE AT THE EVERSON JUNCTION. DO NOT GO EAST. IF YOU DO, NEVER DRIVE PAST BLM'S RECOMMENDED TURNAROUND, APPROXIMATELY 44.8653, -113.32607 (BLM): PAST IT THE ROAD GOES DOWN A STEEP SLOPE WITH LOOSE GRAVEL TO THE CREEK BOTTOM, AND DRIVERS HAVE BEEN STRANDED UNABLE TO CLIMB BACK. PUBLIC ACCESS ENDS AT A LOCKED GATE ON THE PRIVATE LAND, APPROXIMATELY 44.86357, -113.31531 (BLM); BEYOND IT THE ROAD TO MT-324 IS PRIVATE AND NOT LEGAL PUBLIC ACCESS. East of the Everson Creek Road (BLM #1882) junction, BLM gives two approximate points. BLM says: "I do not recommend driving past approximately 44.8653, -113.32607 as the road goes down a steep slope with loose gravel just before it hits the creek bottom. I've had to get a running start to get my vehicle & myself out of there." That is BLM's recommended turnaround: stop there or sooner. BLM also says: "The public access ends at approximately 44.86357, -113.31531 as it is fenced, gated and locked shut on the private." Source: BLM Dillon Field Office Realty Specialist (Doug Dare), email to AGF, Oct. 13, 2026 (2:08 pm) (official, written). Beyond that gate, the road toward MT-324 "is not legal public access" (BLM). BLM says: "The road drops down steeply from Black Canyon Ridge. More than a few times, hunters have been stranded due to weather as they cannot make the approach back up Black Canyon Ridge". BLM reports that some stranded drivers then forced their way through the private land to the highway; that is trespass, not an exit. BLM's earlier reply placed the closure on the private land, where you can see the highway from it; that is most likely the same locked gate. It is not at the top of the descent, so the road can look open from above; BLM calls it "an easy place to get stuck." Source: BLM Dillon Field Office Realty Specialist (Doug Dare), email to AGF, Oct. 13, 2026 (official, written). This guide turns around on the ridge at the Everson junction; the road east of it is not rated or measured here. BLM land-status data (limited scale) shows private land along the lower road east of the gate (it shows BLM at both of BLM's points; at that scale it cannot place the boundary). A locked private-property gate was reported on it in 2025 (field reports in AGF's research notes; secondary), and an onX status report (secondary) marked the through route "Permanently Closed" on Nov. 2, 2025. A gate that happens to be open does not make it legal access. The Everson Creek Road approach (BLM #1882) crosses private land: BLM land-status data shows private land under it at 3 of 7 sampled points, including near its north entry. BLM's Dillon Field Office says it holds an easement on Everson Creek Road (BLM #1882) through the private land: "BLM holds an easement through the private lands which allows for public access. You can drive through the private to the BLM (public domain) land." The easement covers the road only: stay on the road through the private sections, and do not stop, camp, hunt or turn around on private land. The other approach, Lemhi Pass Road to Lemhi Pass and then FS 3908 Frying Pan Divide south along the Continental Divide (FS road inventory: open to all), is harder: onX's "Frying Pan Road" (secondary; matched to FS 3908 by name and location) is rated 4/10, and onX says the rocks "can be quite large and have to be carefully negotiated to avoid damage to the vehicle" and that "A skill set for crawling through these sometimes difficult obstacles is advised." AGF estimates about 4/10 for a trip by that approach; it is not covered by this guide's 3/10. Road number: the Forest Service number is FS 3932. AGF's earlier listing used "FS 5932," which in the Forest Service inventory is a different road (Upper Whitetail, Lincoln County). onX (secondary) says "This road is signed as FS 5932 on the ground": verify on the ground; the Forest Service number is FS 3932. Snow: an onX report (secondary) says a snowbank about 50 feet long blocked the road about halfway along from the Everson side on June 10, 2026. Expect snow into late June (AGF research estimate). Beaverhead County closes the Lemhi Pass Road approach Dec. 1–May 15 (2026 county post); where the gate sits relative to the Everson Creek turnoff: verify. BLM #1882, including the link to FS 3932, is "open to all vehicles, but it is a primitive, unimproved road. There is no seasonal closure in place" (BLM). The 2020–21 fire-rehabilitation closure is historical: BLM says "that order has long since been rescinded." Burned area: the 2020 Bear Creek Fire burned nearly 12,000 acres here (BLM), and BLM told visitors to "remain alert to the danger of standing trees weakened by the fire falling without warning" (BLM, May 2021). Do not camp or park under snags. No Motor Vehicle Use Map covers FS 3932 or FS 3908 (no Beaverhead-Deerlodge MVUM data in FS EDW), so any travel-plan seasonal restriction is unconfirmed: verify with the Dillon Ranger District (406-683-3900). Remote: no services between Grant and Leadore or Salmon (AGF research). Official closures, posted signs and private property override this guide. Call the Dillon Ranger District (406-683-3900) and the BLM Dillon Field Office (406-683-8000) before you go, and read Know Before You Go.
NO RECORD OF AGF DRIVING BLACK CANYON RIDGE ROAD. THIS 3/10 IS AN ESTIMATE FROM OFFICIAL AND SECONDARY SOURCES. No record of AGF driving this route. AGF's GPS archive (274 tracks) has no track within 20 km of it (checked Oct. 9, 2026). Everything here comes from official Forest Service, BLM, state and county sources, plus clearly labeled secondary sources. AGF will re-rate it after an AGF run.
WHAT THIS GUIDE COVERS

Everson Junction to the Divide

From the south end of Everson Creek Road, west about 1.1 miles on BLM #1882 across BLM land (BLM confirms this link is part of #1882, open to all vehicles; the length is an AGF estimate from FS and state GIS), then FS 3932 Black Canyon Ridge for 5.04 miles (FS road inventory) to its end at FS 3908 Frying Pan Divide on the Continental Divide, and back the same way. About 6 to 6.5 miles one way, approximate (AGF's earlier listing used 6.5; onX, secondary, puts the junction at about 6.5 miles): verify by odometer. Reaching the start takes Lemhi Pass Road for about 0.9 mile (AGF estimate from state GIS) and Everson Creek Road for about 11.4 miles (onX, secondary) from MT-324.

NOT INCLUDED: the road east of the Everson junction toward MT-324 (not rated; BLM recommends turning around at approximately 44.8653, -113.32607, and public access ends at a locked gate at approximately 44.86357, -113.31531; private and not legal public access beyond, BLM), FS 3908 Frying Pan Divide and the Lemhi Pass approach (harder: about 4/10, AGF estimate), Everson Creek Road itself (its own guide), and side spurs.
WHY 3/10

Easy · Rocky Climbs on a Single-Lane Ridge Road

NO RECORD OF AGF DRIVING THIS ROUTE: the 3/10 is AGF's estimate, not an AGF run. AGF rates a trail by its hardest unavoidable obstacle in normal dry conditions. Here that is the climbs on FS 3932: onX (secondary) says the first 6.5 miles "contain a few moderately steep ascents and descents that are rocky and are best used in 4WD," and "Some rutting is also present but easily straddled." onX also rates it 3. The Forest Service lists FS 3932 at maintenance level 2, not maintained for passenger cars, native surface, single lane (FS EDW, queried Oct. 9, 2026); that is a maintenance standard, not a condition report. No locker- or winch-level obstacle is documented. The 3/10 applies only to the Everson Creek approach; the Frying Pan Divide approach is harder (about 4/10, AGF estimate). Snow, mud, deadfall and fire are condition changes, not part of the base rating.

Rock
3/5
Mud
3/5
Water
2/5
Exposure
3/5
Snow
5/5
Pinstriping
3/5

Snow, mud, runoff, deadfall and fire are condition changes, not part of the base rating.

ROUTE & MAP

Getting There

From Dillon, take I-15 south about 19 miles (Recreation.gov) to the Clark Canyon exit, then MT-324 west across the dam and through Grant to the Lemhi Pass turnoff at the BLM Shoshone Ridge site, where trailers can be left (BLM). Turn west on Lemhi Pass Road (Beaverhead County); after about 0.9 mile (AGF estimate from state GIS) turn south onto Everson Creek Road, BLM 1882 (see the Everson Creek Road guide and its private-land warning). Follow it about 11.4 miles (onX, secondary) to its south end at the Black Canyon Ridge junction (about 44.8749, -113.3429, state GIS). Turn west: about 1.1 miles on BLM #1882 across BLM land, then FS 3932 about 5 miles to its end at FS 3908 on the Continental Divide. Return the same way. Do not go east of the junction. If you do, never drive past BLM's recommended turnaround (approximately 44.8653, -113.32607, BLM); public access ends at a locked gate on the private land (approximately 44.86357, -113.31531, BLM).

LOADING MAP…
Beaverhead-Deerlodge alerts →BLM Dillon Field Office →ROUTE FILE: not published yet

The pin marks the east end of FS 3932 (FS EDW road geometry, not field-checked), about 1.1 miles west of the Everson Creek Road junction (AGF estimate). FS 3932 meets FS 3908 on the Divide at about 44.8539, -113.4292 (FS EDW). East of the Everson junction, BLM gives its recommended turnaround at approximately 44.8653, -113.32607 (about 1.1 miles east of the junction in a straight line, AGF calculation) and the end of public access, a locked gate, at approximately 44.86357, -113.31531 (BLM), about 1.6 miles east-southeast of the junction in a straight line (about 0.5 mile past the turnaround; AGF calculation). Both points are approximate (BLM), outside this guide's route, and not mapped. No downloadable track is published: AGF's GPS archive has no track within 20 km of this route.

VEHICLE FIT

Rig Requirements

Stock 4x4
Yes
High clearance
Required
Tires
31-inch minimum
Rear locker
No
Front locker
No
Winch
Recommended (AGF record: remote, narrow, snow- or rut-affected); no winch-level obstacle is documented
Full-size
Limited
Body damage
Moderate risk

A high-clearance, low-range-capable 4x4 on good 31-inch-class A/T tires, with a full-size spare, rated recovery points, offline navigation and recovery gear (AGF record). Lockers are not baseline. A winch or a capable partner vehicle is recommended because the route is remote, narrow and can be snow- or rut-affected (AGF record). Narrow one-lane tread and limited passing and turnaround space favor shorter, narrower rigs (AGF record). Do not attempt the excluded private continuation.

TRIP PLANNING

Know Before You Go

Season
About late June through early October, snow dependent (AGF research estimate; verify); Lemhi Pass Road approach closed Dec. 1–May 15 (Beaverhead County)
Typical trip
2–3 hours for the core, plus the Everson Creek approach (AGF record estimate)
Camping
Limited (AGF record); not under burned snags or on private land
Trailers
Leave them at BLM Shoshone Ridge (BLM)
Turnaround
Limited (AGF record); this guide turns around on the ridge at the Everson junction; east of it, never past BLM's recommended turnaround (approx. 44.8653, -113.32607) and never on private land
  • Hunting season: Montana's general deer and elk season runs Oct. 24–Nov. 29, 2026 (FWP). Expect hunters, camps and parked vehicles; wear blaze orange outside the vehicle. Archery season runs to Oct. 18. A youth deer hunt runs Oct. 15–16 (FWP).
  • Bear country: Beaverhead-Deerlodge food storage order 02-00-22-02 applies Mar. 1–Dec. 1 on National Forest land.
  • No Beaverhead-Deerlodge alert named Black Canyon, FS 3932, FS 3908, Frying Pan, Lemhi Pass or Horse Prairie on Oct. 9, 2026 (fire danger Moderate), and the BLM Dillon Field Office page listed no closure here. Recheck before you go.
  • The 2020 Bear Creek Fire closure of this area was rescinded May 11, 2021 (BLM); it is not in force.
  • Contacts: Dillon Ranger District 406-683-3900 (FS 3932 and FS 3908 seasonal restrictions); BLM Dillon Field Office 406-683-8000 (BLM #1882 and the east-descent closure); Beaverhead County Road Department through the Commissioners' office in Dillon (Lemhi Pass Road winter gate; phone: verify).
SOURCES

Sources & Review

Last reviewed Oct. 13, 2026. BLM confirmed in writing that the Everson Creek approach (BLM #1882, including the link to FS 3932) has public access on a BLM easement through the private land, is open to all vehicles and has no seasonal closure; the 2020–21 fire closure is rescinded. In a second written reply the same day, BLM gave its recommended turnaround east of the junction (approximately 44.8653, -113.32607) and the end of public access at a locked gate on private land (approximately 44.86357, -113.31531); beyond the gate the road toward MT-324 is private and not legal public access. The Lemhi Pass Road approach closes Dec. 1–May 15, and no MVUM covers FS 3932. There is no record of AGF driving Black Canyon Ridge Road; the 3/10 is an estimate from official and secondary sources, for the Everson Creek approach only.

AGF ratings describe normal, dry-condition difficulty. They do not mean a route is legal, open or passable today. Spot something out of date? Use the Contact page.