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Boulder Road Updates

SGCRA Volunteers Reopen Historic Independence Road

Sweet Grass County Recreation Association — Club News

The Sweet Grass County Recreation Association (SGCRA) celebrated a major accomplishment in September when volunteers completed a bridge detour on the upper Main Boulder River Road, restoring vehicle access to the historic Independence mining district and Blue Lake Trail south of Big Timber.

The road had been closed to wheeled vehicles for three years following the devastating June 2022 flood, which damaged two bridges and washed out portions of the route. After two years of coordinating with Park County and state and federal agencies to secure necessary approvals, SGCRA organized a volunteer work weekend September 11–13.

Using chainsaws, hand tools and a mini-excavator, volunteers cleared and constructed a detour around a damaged bridge, including a low-water crossing of the Main Boulder River. By September 12, the route was open to high-clearance vehicles, and Park County subsequently canceled its road closure ordinance.

The accomplishment reflects SGCRA’s longstanding commitment to preserving recreational access to Montana’s public lands.

SGCRA is about more than snowmobiling. Based in Big Timber, the association supports year-round motorized recreation, responsible public-land access and stewardship of the trails and roads that connect people with Montana’s backcountry.

During winter, SGCRA supports snowmobile trail grooming and maintenance in the Boulder River drainage, helping provide access for snowmobilers and other winter recreationists. The association also promotes snowmobile safety, organizes social activities and brings together members and supporters through its annual Boulder Ambler fundraiser, poker run, banquet and raffles.

Beyond winter recreation, SGCRA advocates for maintaining public access to historic routes and recreational destinations. The association has pursued grant funding for drainage improvements and maintenance along the Main Boulder River Road, while working with local officials and organizations to address deteriorating road conditions and flood-damaged infrastructure.

The Independence detour is a significant victory, but more work remains. Replacement of the damaged bridges and long-term maintenance of the upper Main Boulder Road remain priorities.

SGCRA thanks its volunteers, donors, partner organizations and government agencies for helping keep Montana’s backcountry accessible for future generations.

For information about SGCRA activities, membership or opportunities to support its work, contact SGCRAclub@gmail.com. On the web www.sgcra.club and Facebook.com/SGCRASnowFun

Low-water crossing of the Main Boulder River, 2.2 miles upstream from Box Canyon Parking Area.

Subject: Detour Trail Open - Main Boulder Road 2 Miles S. of Box Canyon

September 15, 2026

Message to Park County Montana Commissioners,

SGCRA members and volunteers (about 40 sets of helping hands) completed the trail work under the MOU on Friday and Saturday, September 12 and 13. The new trail around the closed bridge is consistent in width and character with the existing corridor, suitable only for high clearance vehicles, ATVs, four wheelers and UTVs. No fill material was placed in the riverbed below the high water marks per the conditions of the special use permit and a handful of large boulders were relocated from the river crossing to an area beyond the ordinary high water mark.

SGCRA believes preserving county-owned road access in the Main Boulder River Valley is about protecting a public asset that previous generations established and entrusted to us. The Main Boulder Road provides a rare and irreplaceable public corridor through National Forest lands, connecting residents and visitors to the upper Boulder Valley and high country for recreation, hunting, fishing, historic sites, emergency response, land management, and access to public lands. Once a county road or right-of-way of this character is lost through prolonged closure, deterioration, or abandonment, re-creating that access across federal lands may be extraordinarily difficult, costly, or impossible. Re-establishing access to the upper stretch of the Main Boulder corridor ensures that the privilege inherited by this generation remains available to the generations that follow.

Looking forward to commission action to reopen the trail south of Box Canyon during today's [September 15] commission meeting.

Sincerely,

Lloyd Rue

SGCRA President

[Note: The commissioners unanimously rescinded the road-closure resolution.]

Status Update April 24, 2026

At their meeting on April 14, the Park County Commissioners decided to move forward with plans to request approval from the U.S. Forest Service for constructing a bypass and a low water crossing around the broken bridge two miles upstream of Box Canyon. To support the county’s initiative, a SGCRA volunteer took the time to draft an application outlining the proposal, which was submitted to the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers (USACE) back in March by Park County Public Works. After reviewing the details, USACE responded by stating that no permit would be necessary for the project. This response marked the completion of their regulatory review, clearing an essential hurdle before the Forest Service can give its final approval for the construction.

On April 16, the SGCRA president met with the Yellowstone District Ranger and Recreation Officer. SGCRA has no current obligations; the Yellowstone District Office will send a permit to Park County for completion. U.S. Forest Service staff specialists must conduct surveys for an abbreviated environmental review. No timeline was provided, and it's unclear if SGCRA volunteers can build the rerouted trail around the damaged bridge this summer.

The week following the meeting, an official from the U.S. Forest Service office in Washington, DC reached out to SGCRA’s president to gather information about the closure and loss of access to the Forest. Ken Verheyen, a Senior Advisor to the Undersecretary responsible for overseeing Forest Service operations, offered to contact the Yellowstone District Ranger. His goal was to help secure resources and take steps to reopen the road for forest access this year.

Figure 1

Park County Closed Bridge 2022

Figure 2

Park County Closed Bridge 2023

Figure 3

Vicinity Map

Sweet Grass County Recreation Association is with Montana Snowmobile Association and Angie Roberts For Sweet Grass County Commissioner .

Published byLloyd Rue·April 17

Briefing: Main Boulder River Road in Park County and Sweet Grass County, Montana; Road Closure and Broken Bridges

(Provided to the Montana Snowmobile Association (MSA) leadership for their upcoming trip to Washington, DC, to meet with Montana Congressional delegation and staff.)

Introduction

The briefing outlines the loss of backcountry access to the Gallatin National Forest, south of Big Timber, Montana, following the closure of a road by Park County officials after two bridges collapsed during the 2022 flood, and the need to re-open the road for resource protection and restoring access to public and private property inholdings. The closure is about 50 miles south of Big Timber, along a road that meanders into and out of Sweet Grass and Park Counties and follows the Main Boulder River (see Figure 3).

Main Boulder Road History and Current Status

Historical Background

The Main Boulder Road was originally established in 1893, running entirely within Park County from the Chimney Rocks Pass near Cooke City, Montana, to the Boulder River Mining District. The shared jurisdiction of the route in the Boulder River Valley can be traced back to 1895 when Sweet Grass County was created from lands previously belonging to Park County. This joint oversight has continued since the road’s inception, which predates the creation of the Absaroka Forest in 1902—now known as the Custer Gallatin National Forest.

Geographic and Functional Significance

Located inside the Forest boundary, approximately 26 miles south of Big Timber, the Main Boulder Road serves as the main access route to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The counties are responsible for owning and maintaining the road, even though they do not receive direct financial support for its upkeep. Importantly, this route provides access to Forest Service campgrounds and trailheads, serving area residents and visitors, and is the area’s only wintertime snowmobile trail.

Bridge Collapse and Funding Efforts

The collapse of two off-system bridges (Figure 1 and Figure 2) along the Main Boulder Road prompted Park County officials to secure partial funding from the State of Montana to rebuild the bridges and restore access. Additionally, Park County has applied for supplemental grant funding, also from the State of Montana, with the outcome of this request still pending. The bridges remain closed.

Alongside state-level efforts, Park County has submitted a partial funding request to Congressmen Sheehy and Daines, seeking further support for the reconstruction and reopening of the road.

Issues

The road's current condition limits access for emergency services and fire crews. The closure blocks motorized entry to private land and motor vehicle access to maintain a communications site serving Sweet Grass and Park County. Park County has reduced its services and programs following Federal funding cuts last year. Summer visitation and its associated business income is down due to the closure.

County road departments, funded by property taxes in sparsely populated areas with extensive Federal lands, maintain large networks to reach remote locations. Federal funding is seldom pursued. Bridges built on the Boulder Road with federal funds between 1940-1955 provided safe access for over 75 years before being destroyed in 2022. Every year the road is closed—four and counting—the deterioration accelerates.

Solution

Provide supplemental funding to rebuild the off-system broken bridges, enabling construction to start next year and reopening the road by 2028. View this bridge funding as a priority for both Park County and Sweet Grass County. Reopening the road restores access to the Sweet Grass Co. segment, the communications tower, and private land. This supplemental, one-time funding will allow the corridor to be used safely for another 50-75 years, maintaining its current character.

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