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MONTANA 4x4 TRAIL GUIDE · MT-0059

Everson Creek Road (BLM 1882)

BLM Road #1882 · Lemhi Pass Road to Black Canyon Ridge · Beaverhead Mountains near Grant, Montana
2/10AGF Difficulty · Easy · estimate; no record of AGF driving it
~11.4 MIOne way (onX, secondary); approximate
BLM EASEMENTPublic access through private land (BLM): stay on the road
BLM #1882Dillon Field Office · open to all vehicles
THIS ROAD CROSSES PRIVATE LAND ON A BLM EASEMENT: STAY ON THE ROAD. THIS GUIDE ENDS AT THE BLACK CANYON RIDGE JUNCTION AT THE SOUTH END. DO NOT GO EAST FROM THERE. 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. Everson Creek Road crosses private land in at least two places along the road: BLM land-status data (limited scale) shows private land under the road at 3 of 7 sampled points, near the Lemhi Pass Road entry and at two points in the middle section. 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. If a gate is locked or posted no access, turn back and report it to BLM Dillon (406-683-8000). Route: the road is BLM #1882, and BLM confirms #1882 also includes the roughly 1.1-mile link west to FS 3932. BLM says: "The road is open to all vehicles, but it is a primitive, unimproved road. There is no seasonal closure in place." The 2020–21 fire-rehabilitation closure is historical: BLM says "that order has long since been rescinded" (BLM rescinded it May 11, 2021). Source: BLM Dillon Field Office Realty Specialist (Doug Dare), email to AGF, Oct. 13, 2026 (official, written). East descent: 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. Seasonal: 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. 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. Mud: the native-surface ruts get worse when wet; avoid the road after rain or during snowmelt (AGF research). No BLM travel map covering Everson Creek was found on BLM's Montana-Dakotas georeferenced map page. Official closures, posted signs and private property override this guide. Call the BLM Dillon Field Office (406-683-8000) before you go, and read Know Before You Go.
NO RECORD OF AGF DRIVING EVERSON CREEK ROAD. THIS 2/10 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

Lemhi Pass Road to Black Canyon Ridge

BLM Road 1882, Everson Creek Road, from Lemhi Pass Road about 0.9 mile west of MT-324 (AGF estimate from state GIS) south and west to its junction with Black Canyon Ridge Road: about 11.4 miles one way (onX, secondary). State GIS geometry generalizes to about 10.9 miles (AGF estimate, which runs short): verify by odometer. Return the same way, or continue west on Black Canyon Ridge (FS 3932). The north end is on Lemhi Pass Road, not on "Big Hole Road" as AGF's earlier listing said. BLM named the road in its Sept. 4, 2020 fire release: "Everson Creek Road 1882 is also included in the modified closure order." That closure is historical: it was rescinded May 11, 2021 (BLM).

NOT INCLUDED: Black Canyon Ridge Road / FS 3932 (its own guide), the road east of the south-end 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), Lemhi Pass Road beyond the turnoff, side spurs, and any land off the road.
WHY 2/10

Easy · Ruts and a Rocky Wooded Stretch

NO RECORD OF AGF DRIVING THIS ROUTE: the 2/10 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 wooded south end, about 2 miles, which onX (secondary) describes as "rocky ascents and descents and sharp turns." The rest is sage foothill road with "a fair bit of rutting and a few shallow water crossings," which onX (secondary) says "in general offers little challenge to a competent 4WD"; onX also rates it 2. No locker- or winch-level obstacle is documented. BLM calls it "a primitive, unimproved road"; it is single lane, so passing is limited. Mud, snow and fire are condition changes, not part of the base rating.

Rock
2/5
Mud
3/5
Water
2/5
Exposure
2/5
Snow
4/5
Pinstriping
2/5

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; after about 0.9 mile (AGF estimate from state GIS) turn south (left) onto Everson Creek Road, BLM 1882 (onX, secondary: "signed as BLM Road #1882"). Follow it about 11.4 miles south and west, through sage foothills and then about 2 miles of wooded, rocky road, to the Black Canyon Ridge junction (about 44.8749, -113.3429, state GIS). Return the same way, or continue west on BLM #1882 to the Black Canyon Ridge Road (FS 3932). 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…
BLM Dillon Field Office →Lemhi Pass Rd county notice →ROUTE FILE: not published yet

The pin marks the north end of Everson Creek Road at Lemhi Pass Road (Montana State Library road framework coordinate; state GIS, not a legal-status record; not field-checked). BLM land-status data shows private land at the entry: stay on the road. The south end is at about 44.8749, -113.3429 (same source). East of the south end, 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, 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
Stock
Rear locker
No
Front locker
No
Winch
No
Full-size
Yes
Body damage
Low risk

A stock high-clearance 4x4 or SUV is appropriate in normal dry conditions (AGF record). Carry good A/T tires, a full-size spare, rated recovery points, offline navigation and basic recovery gear. Low range may help on the rockier southern grades. Full-size and long-wheelbase rigs are generally fine, but the wooded southern miles are single lane with sharp turns and ruts: expect limited passing (AGF record).

TRIP PLANNING

Know Before You Go

Season
No BLM seasonal closure on #1882 (BLM); snow limits it, about June–October (AGF research estimate; verify); Lemhi Pass Road approach closed Dec. 1–May 15 (Beaverhead County)
Typical trip
2–3 hours (AGF record estimate)
Camping
Verify; never on the private sections
Trailers
Leave them at BLM Shoshone Ridge (BLM)
Turnaround
Limited (AGF record); never on private land, and never past BLM's recommended turnaround east of the south end (approx. 44.8653, -113.32607)
  • 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).
  • No closure for Everson Creek Road was listed on the BLM Dillon Field Office page or the Beaverhead-Deerlodge alerts page on Oct. 9, 2026. The BLM Montana-Dakotas alerts page did not load: verify.
  • BLM says there is no seasonal closure on #1882 (BLM Dillon Field Office, Oct. 13, 2026).
  • Contacts: BLM Dillon Field Office 406-683-8000 (1005 Selway Dr., Dillon); Beaverhead County for the Lemhi Pass Road winter gate (phone: verify); Dillon Ranger District 406-683-3900 for FS 3932 at the south end.
SOURCES

Sources & Review

Last reviewed Oct. 13, 2026. BLM confirmed in writing that it holds an easement for public access through the private land on this road (BLM #1882), that the road is open to all vehicles with no seasonal closure, and that the 2020–21 fire closure is rescinded. In a second written reply the same day, BLM gave its recommended turnaround east of the south end (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. There is no record of AGF driving Everson Creek Road; the 2/10 is an estimate from official and secondary sources.

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.