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MONTANA 4x4 TRAIL GUIDE · MT-0022

Weasel Creek–Indian Creek (FS 405 and FS 360)

Winston to Townsend on Weasel Creek Road, FS 405, FS 360 and Indian Creek Road · Elkhorn Mountains, Montana
2/10AGF Difficulty · Easy · estimate; no record of AGF driving it
~26.5 MIOne way, Winston to US-287, approximate (11.8 mi on FS roads); verify
CLOSED DEC 2–MAY 15FS 405 and FS 360 highway-legal only, open May 16–Dec. 1 (live FS MVUM data)
USFSTownsend Ranger District
FS 405 AND FS 360 ARE OPEN TO HIGHWAY-LEGAL VEHICLES ONLY, MAY 16–DEC. 1. THE ROUTE CROSSES PRIVATE LAND NEAR WINSTON, AND A 2025 ROAD-WORK CLOSURE HAS NO PUBLISHED END DATE. FS 405 Weasel Creek (MP 3.927–12.238) and FS 360 Indian Creek (MP 10.7–14.227) are "Roads open to highway legal vehicles only, Seasonal," open May 16–Dec. 1 (live FS MVUM data); the Elkhorns MVUM PDF row for FS 360 gives the same dates. Non-street-legal ATVs, UTVs and OHVs are not designated on this line. If the dates are unchanged, the last open day in 2026 is Dec. 1. Private land: BLM land-status data (limited scale) shows private land between Winston and the forest. onX (secondary) says, "All private property crossings are allowed if you stay on the trail." Stay on the road; do not stop, camp or turn off on private land. Road work: a Forest Service release of July 21, 2025 said the "Weasel Creek road closure starts at the Crow Creek Junction up to the Eagle Guard Station turnoff" and that "Indian Creek Road continues to be open from the highway to the forest boundary during the road work". It gave no end date, and the closure is not on the current alerts list. Whether it is finished and whether it touches this route: verify with the Townsend Ranger District (406-266-3425). End roads: Weasel Creek Road from Winston and Indian Creek Road to US-287 appear in state GIS with Broadwater County as the data provider, which is not proof of county ownership. Their county status: verify with Broadwater County (phone: verify). FS 4031 Weston Creek does not connect to FS 360 and is not part of this route. Early season: onX (secondary) says Indian Creek Road "may be muddy in the early spring, you may encounter snow". Downed trees: the Helena-Lewis and Clark alert "December Windstorm Creates Hazards across the Forest" (Dec. 17, 2025) was still listed on Oct. 12, 2026. Carry a saw. FS 405's and FS 360's vehicle class and dates come from the Forest Service's live MVUM data (EDW, read Oct. 12, 2026): check the current MVUM before you go. Official closures, posted signs and private property override this guide. Call the Townsend Ranger District (406-266-3425) before you go, and read Know Before You Go.
NO RECORD OF AGF DRIVING WEASEL CREEK–INDIAN CREEK. THIS 2/10 IS AN ESTIMATE FROM OFFICIAL AND SECONDARY SOURCES. No record of AGF driving this route (AGF Verified: NO). AGF's GPS archive has no track on this route (checked Oct. 12, 2026). Everything here comes from official sources, plus clearly labeled secondary sources. AGF will re-rate it after an AGF run.
WHAT THIS GUIDE COVERS

Winston to US-287 over the Elkhorns

From Winston, Weasel Creek Road to FS 405 at MP 3.927, FS 405 south 8.3 miles to its junction with FS 360, FS 360 Indian Creek down 3.5 miles to MP 10.7, then Indian Creek Road east to US-287 near Townsend: about 11.8 miles on Forest Service roads (live FS MVUM data) and about 26.5 miles one way in all (AGF estimate; verify). It can be driven in either direction. AGF's earlier listing routed it over FS 4031; FS 4031 does not connect to FS 360.

NOT INCLUDED: FS 4031 Weston Creek, FS 405 south of the FS 360 junction, Eagle Guard Station, Nonmotorized Trail #135, the separate Weasel Creek shelf-road spur, and any private land off the road. Weasel Creek Road and Indian Creek Road are approach roads (county status: verify).
WHY 2/10

Easy · Forest Roads Suitable for Passenger Cars

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, and no fixed obstacle is documented here. The Forest Service lists every Forest Service segment on this line at maintenance level 3, suitable for passenger cars (live FS MVUM data), and onX (secondary) rates Indian Creek Road 2. onX (secondary) also rates its longer "Townsend To Winston" route, which includes Weasel Creek and Indian Creek Road, 2. Terrain scores are not rated yet. Mud, snow, deadfall and road work are condition changes, not part of the base rating.

Terrain scores (rock, mud, water, exposure, snow, pinstriping) are not rated yet for this trail.

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

ROUTE & MAP

Getting There

From Winston (US-12/287), take Weasel Creek Road south about 3.9 miles to the start of FS 405 at about 46.4425, -111.7054 (live FS MVUM data; AGF estimate of the distance; verify). Follow FS 405 south about 8.3 miles to its junction with FS 360 at about 46.3643, -111.7144. Turn onto FS 360 Indian Creek and descend about 3.5 miles to MP 10.7 (about 46.3393, -111.6749), then follow Indian Creek Road east to US-287 near Townsend (state GIS). Stay on the road through private land near Winston.

LOADING MAP…
Helena-Lewis and Clark alerts →Elkhorns MVUM (PDF) →ROUTE FILE: not published yet

The pin marks the FS 405 / FS 360 junction near the middle of the route (live FS MVUM data; not field-checked). It replaces AGF's earlier pin, which was not on the route. No downloadable track is published.

VEHICLE FIT

Rig Requirements

Stock 4x4
Yes
High clearance
Recommended
Tires
31-inch minimum
Rear locker
No
Front locker
No
Winch
No
Full-size
Yes
Body damage
Moderate risk

A stock high-clearance 4x4 on good all-terrain tires, with a full-size spare, rated recovery points, a saw, a radio and offline maps (AGF record). Lockers and a winch are not baseline; a capable partner and recovery gear are prudent when mud, snow or deadfall are possible (AGF record). Full-size vehicles are generally viable in normal dry conditions; brush, mud, snow and limited pullouts can reduce options (AGF record). Highway-legal vehicles only.

TRIP PLANNING

Know Before You Go

Season
Open to highway-legal vehicles May 16–Dec. 1; closed Dec. 2–May 15 (live FS MVUM data; check the current MVUM)
Vehicles
Highway-legal only (live FS MVUM data)
Typical trip
Half day (AGF record estimate)
Camping
Verify; never on private land
Trailer parking
Verify
Turnaround
Yes (AGF record)
  • 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).
  • Food storage: the Helena-Lewis and Clark alerts page lists the NCDE Food and Wildlife Attractant Storage Order (R1-2023-02), which likely does not cover the Elkhorn Mountains; whether the Elkhorn Mountains are inside its area: verify. Store food bear-safe regardless.
  • No Helena-Lewis and Clark alert named Weasel Creek, Weston Creek, Indian Creek or Townsend on Oct. 12, 2026 (fire danger Moderate). Recheck before you go.
  • Contacts: Townsend Ranger District (406-266-3425), 415 S. Front, Townsend (the 2025 road work and the current MVUM); Broadwater County (phone: verify) for Weasel Creek Road and Indian Creek Road.
SOURCES

Sources & Review

Last reviewed Oct. 12, 2026. No alert names the route, but FS 405 and FS 360 are highway-legal only and open only May 16–Dec. 1, the route crosses private land near Winston, a July 2025 road-work closure has no published end date, and the county status of both end roads is unverified. There is no record of AGF driving Weasel Creek–Indian Creek; 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.