Bitterroot National Forest

Passes & Permits

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Passes

The Recreation Passes shown below are honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or standard amenity fees. Note: the Forest Service will still honor previously issued Golden Age and Golden Access Passports at all fee areas.

The Interagency Annual Pass is honored nationwide at all Forest Service, National Park Service, Bureau of Land Management, Bureau of Reclamation, and US Fish & Wildlife Service sites charging entrance or standard amenity fees. The Interagency Annual Pass is $80 for a year pass and is available to the general public.

Interagency Senior Pass gives a 50% discount on some expanded amenity fees like campgrounds (does not include hookups for water/sewer/electricity), highly developed boat launches and swimming sites and for specialized interpretive services. (More Information). This is a $10 lifetime pass and is available to persons over 62 years of age.

The Interagency Access Pass gives a 50% discount on some expanded amenity fees like campgrounds (does not include hookups for water/sewer/electricity), highly developed boat launches and swimming sites and for specialized interpretive services. (More Information). This is a free lifetime permit that is issued to US citizens with a permanent disability. You must apply for these passports in person and bring proof of blindness or permanent disability.

Permits

Permits are required for all commercial and certain individual activities that occur on the Forest. A list of the more common personal use permits are listed below. For further information or clarification please contact us at any one our Bitterroot National Forest office's.

Firewood Permits

Firewood permits are for personal use only. Effective April 2, 2007 the cost of a basic permit is $28.00, which entitles the holder to four cords of wood. There is a maximum of 12 cords per year, per household. Firewood permits can be purchased at all Bitterroot NF offices.

Post & Pole Cutting Permits

Post & Pole permits are for personal use only. Currently there are two P&P areas on the Forest; i.e., Ambrose Saddle, Stevensville R.D., and the Mine Road Area, Darby R.D. Only live lodgepole pine trees less than 6 inches in diameter at 4.5 feet from the ground level may be cut. Interested individuals are encouraged to view the areas first before purchasing a permit. Permits are non-refundable and available only at the Stevensville or Darby Ranger District's. Permits are available June 15th thru September 30th.

Christmas Tree Permits

Christmas Tree permits are seasonal and are available beginning in November. Permits are $5 per tree and are limited to three per household. Permits are available at all Bitterroot National Forest offices.

Mushroom Permits

Bitterroot National Forest 2008 Mushroom Guide (.pdf, 236kb)

 

Free Use (No charge) - Permittee can get up to 50 lbs/season of mushrooms for personal/free use. The possession limit is 5 gallons per day. Permit will be valid until September 30, 2008. Harvesters over the age of 12 will be required to have a permit. If the harvester is under the age of 18, the parent or guardian’s name will be included on the minor’s permit. The permit must be kept with the parent or guardian when collecting or transporting mushrooms. Minors must be accompanied by an adult guardian when collecting or transporting mushrooms. Mushrooms must be cut in half lengthwise and are not to be sold commercially. The season begins on May 1, 2008 and ends on September 30, 2008.

 

Commercial Use (Fee charged) - Permits are issued for the 2007 Rombo Mountain Fire Area and will only be available at the Darby, Sula, and West Fork Ranger Districts. The season begins on May 1, 2008 and ends on September 30, 2008. Permit fees are listed below.

Rombo Mountain Fire Map (.pdf, 1114kb)

$20.00 permit / 7 days;
$40.00 permit / 14 days;
$60.00 permit / 21 days;
$75.00 permit / 30 days;
$100.00 permit / good for season

Mineral Material Permits

Railroad Creek Community Rock Source - Darby Ranger District

Upper Burnt Fork Decorative Stone Community Collecting Area - Stevensville Ranger District

Ornamental Permits - Incidental Free Use (no charge)

Transplants-Seedlings and Shrubs - Must be less than 2' in height and limited to 10 per permit. Seedlings cannot be removed from plantation stands unless approval is given by District personnel. Additionaly - seedlings cannot be removed from recreation areas (campgrounds, picnic areas, trailheads, etc...), riparian areas or from within areas that have been rehabilitated due to fire.

Dry cones - 10 bushels or less.

Christmas Boughs - Less than 500 lbs., about a pick-up load.

Forest Greens (floral) - Products such as snowberry, willows, dogwood, etc.. Forest Botanist needs to approve of prior to issuance.

Limbs - Less than 1000 lbs., about a pick-up load. Usually the request is for decorative uses such as walking sticks, landscape projects, furniture railings, etc... If near a stream, the Forest Hydrologist or Fisheries Biologist needs to approve of prior to issuance.

 

Wilderness Permits

Permits are not required to enter the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness, the Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness or the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness. However, the Anaconda Pintler Wilderness does require visitors to fill out self-issued registration cards which are available at all trailheads. These registration cards help the Forest Service gather accurate data on the number of people visiting various locations and assist with the management of the area. For further information on wilderness regulations click here.

Special-Uses Permit/Authorization

A special-use authorization is a legal document such as a permit, lease or easement, which allows occupancy, use, rights, or privileges of NFS land. The authorization is granted for a specific use of the land for a specific period of time.

You will need an authorization if:

If you will need to occupy, use, or build on NFS land for personal or business purposes, whether the duration is temporary or long term.

If there is a fee being charged or if income is derived from the use.

If an activity on NFS land involves individuals or organization with 75 or more participants or spectators.

For general information about Special-Uses Authorization contact Roylene at (406) 363-7157. For site specific information contact the pertinent district office.

USDA Forest Service - Bitterroot National Forest
Last Modified: Friday, 09 May 2008 at 11:22:13 EDT