- Region
- Montana
- Country
- United States
- Best for
- hiking, wildlife viewing, camping
- Best season
- Spring, Summer
- Permits
- Confirm current Hunting District 216 licen…
Plan with verified data
Hunting District 216 trip tools
Tools for a trip here
Picked for how, when and where you're going. Free, no signup.
- Sleep System Temp CalculatorCold nights: check your bag and pad add up to a safe sleep.
- Bear Country Food StorageBear country: canister, Ursack or hang, and the local rules.
- The 10 EssentialsDay on trail: carry the ten essentials.
- Water Purification MatrixRefilling on trail: compare treatment options.
- Layering CalculatorCool temps: build a layer stack for the climb and the summit.
How to get there
Hunting District 216 sits in portions of Missoula, Ravalli, Granite, Powell, and Deer Lodge counties in western Montana, just east of Missoula. One boundary description begins at Lolo, then north along US Highway 93 to Blue Mountain Road, then northwesterly along Blue Mountain Road to Big Flat Road, and northerly along Big Flat Road to Harper. Another boundary description begins at Skalkaho Pass, then northerly along the Bitterroot-Rock Creek Divide to USFS Trail 215, then easterly along said trail to Rock Creek Road at Eagle Creek-Cable Crossing.
- Brewster Creek
This area provides access to districts 216 (south of the road) and 210 (north of the road).
Photo: Famartin / CC BY-SA 3.0 Sawmill Gulch TrailThis trail provides access into the mountains for District 204, located directly across Rock Creek. It is a three-quarter-mile hike up the fisherman's trail to a river fjord.
- Rock Creek Road at Eagle Creek-Cable Crossing
One boundary of the district is described as following Rock Creek Road north from USFS Trail 215.
- Slide Rock-Upper Willow Creek Road
From the Rock Creek Road at Brewster Creek, this road runs southeasterly to its junction with the Rock Creek-Philipsburg Road.
Sources: Wikipedia · Wikivoyage · HuntScore · Montana Rock Creek Cabin. Confirm road and trailhead conditions with the managing agency before you leave.
Montana · United States · Season: Fall hunting seasons
- Hunting
- Climbing
- Hiking
- Backpacking
- Wildlife Viewing
Overview
HD 216 is part of the Scapegoat Wilderness and surrounding national forest lands in the northern Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. This is a true wilderness experience, requiring pack animals or significant backpacking effort. Access points include trailheads near Augusta or Lincoln. Elk populations are strong, and the potential for a mature bull is high for those willing to venture deep into the backcountry. The terrain is vast and rugged, with heavy timber, open parks, and high alpine areas. Weather is a major factor, with early snows common. Grizzly bears are abundant. This unit is for experienced wilderness hunters only. General elk tag. Expect standard Montana hunting license and stamp fees.
Planning notes
Where: Montana, United States Best season: Fall hunting seasons Good for: Hiking, Wildlife Viewing, Camping Featured on: Top 10 Public Land Elk Units in Montana: High-Percentage Districts (#8) Access point: Montana, USA
Check current permits, closures and fire restrictions with the managing agency before you commit to dates.
Where on earth
Satellite imagery flying in from a world view to Hunting District 216, United States. Use the + / − buttons, or click the map to zoom with your scroll wheel; drag to pan and pinch to zoom on touch.
Coordinates
- Decimal degrees
- 46.8797, -110.3626
- Latitude (DMS)
- 46° 52′ 46.9″ N
- Longitude (DMS)
- 110° 21′ 45.2″ W
Coordinates are an access-point reference for Hunting District 216, not a route. Carry a paper map and confirm trailhead or put-in access with the managing agency before you go.
Topic summary
HD 216 is part of the Scapegoat Wilderness and surrounding national forest lands in the northern Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.
Key takeaways
- Region: Montana
- Country: United States
- Best season: Fall hunting seasons
- Good for: hiking, wildlife viewing, camping
- Coordinates: 46.880, -110.363
Intended uses
- hiking
- wildlife viewing
- camping
Climate suitability
Fall hunting seasons
Keep planning
Popular pursuits at Hunting District 216
- Hunting
Seasons, tags, and the units that hold animals.
- Climbing
Rock and alpine lines with approach beta.
- Hiking
Day miles on marked trail, with route notes and trail links below.
- Backpacking
Multi-day travel with everything on your back — see the packing blocks below.
- Wildlife Viewing
Best light, best season, and where animals move.
Animals around Hunting District 216
Hunting District 216: establish the boundaries first
Hunting District 216 is identified as a Montana destination, but its precise boundaries, terrain, and public access are not established here. Treat the district name as a starting point for planning, not as a navigable destination or an assurance that land is open to entry. Montana spans very different landscapes: its western half contains numerous mountain ranges, particularly the Rocky Mountains, while its eastern half is characterized by prairie and badlands, with smaller ranges elsewhere. Those statewide descriptions do not establish which conditions apply inside District 216. Before choosing a starting point, confirm the district on a current managing-agency map and distinguish the hunting boundary from landownership and legal access. A district designation alone is not enough to build a field itinerary.
Access and route planning
No specific road, trailhead, parking area, or walking route can be identified for Hunting District 216 here. That leaves the approach, travel time, and on-foot effort unresolved. Avoid selecting an access point simply because it appears close to a district label on a general map. Instead, confirm that the approach reaches the intended district and that entry is allowed along the full route. Montana is a large, sparsely populated state, so statewide location information is not a useful substitute for a verified local approach. Once access is established, plan the outing around the actual terrain and return route rather than an assumed distance or difficulty. Until then, a drive time or recommended route would imply more certainty than is warranted.
What to confirm before a trip
Confirm current hunting requirements with the managing agency before planning an outing in Hunting District 216. No district-specific season, species, permit rule, fee, or closure is established here, and none should be inferred from the district number. The same caution applies to choosing equipment: Montana's broad mix of mountains, prairie, and badlands does not establish the conditions at a particular destination. After confirming the location and access, check local weather and match clothing, water, navigation tools, and the day's scope to the terrain you will actually enter. Keep hunting authorization and permission to enter land as separate planning questions. A useful trip plan needs both resolved, along with a verified starting point and a practical way to return.
Sample itineraries
- One-day reconnaissance framework · 1 day
Before visiting Hunting District 216, confirm its boundary, lawful access and current regulations with the managing agency. Choose an outing only after those checks; no specific access point or route is established here.
- Two-day scouting framework · 2 days
Use the first day for a reconnaissance outing on confirmed lawful access. Make the second day's plan dependent on observed conditions and verified regulations. Arrange lodging separately; camping locations and overnight access are not established here.
Seasonal conditions
Spring
District-specific timing not established.
Check local forecasts and access conditions before choosing dates. Montana's statewide mix of mountains, prairie and badlands does not establish spring conditions in Hunting District 216.
Summer
District-specific timing not established.
Confirm local temperatures, water availability and access before departure. No district-specific summer conditions or activity dates are established here.
Fall
District-specific timing not established.
Check current weather and applicable hunting regulations independently. Fall should not be treated as confirmation that a particular hunt or access route is open.
Winter
District-specific timing not established.
Verify local weather and route suitability before committing to an outing. District-specific winter travel conditions are not established here.
| Season | Window | Conditions |
|---|---|---|
| Spring | District-specific timing not established. | Check local forecasts and access conditions before choosing dates. Montana's statewide mix of mountains, prairie and badlands does not establish spring conditions in Hunting District 216. |
| Summer | District-specific timing not established. | Confirm local temperatures, water availability and access before departure. No district-specific summer conditions or activity dates are established here. |
| Fall | District-specific timing not established. | Check current weather and applicable hunting regulations independently. Fall should not be treated as confirmation that a particular hunt or access route is open. |
| Winter | District-specific timing not established. | Verify local weather and route suitability before committing to an outing. District-specific winter travel conditions are not established here. |
Permits, fees & closures
Confirm current Hunting District 216 licensing, permit and access requirements with the managing agency.
Confirm current permits, fees, and closures with the managing agency before you go.
Hazards & regulations
- Terrain hazards are not established for Hunting District 216; verify the intended route rather than extrapolating from Montana's statewide geography.
- Weather-related hazards require a local forecast and conditions check; no district-specific assessment is established here.
- Wildlife hazards are not established for this district; obtain local safety guidance before departure.
What to pack for Hunting District 216
- Verified district boundary map
- Confirmed access information
- Current applicable regulations
- Clothing suited to the local forecast
- Water appropriate to the planned outing
- Footwear suited to verified terrain
Hunting District 216 FAQ
- Where in Montana is Hunting District 216?
- Its precise location and boundaries are not established here. Obtain a current district map from the managing agency before choosing a destination.
- Which trailheads or roads provide access?
- No district-specific trailheads, roads or access points are established here. Confirm lawful entry and land ownership before traveling.
- What species can be hunted?
- No district-specific species or hunting opportunities are established here. Verify species, license validity and current regulations with the managing agency.
- When is the best time to visit?
- A district-specific recommendation is not possible without local conditions and activity details. Choose dates after checking weather, access and applicable regulations.
- Are these ready-to-follow itineraries?
- No. They are planning frameworks, not verified routes. District boundaries, access, terrain and any overnight arrangements need confirmation before use.