Big Eddy
Big Eddy Trail is a 4.7-mile trail in Kootenai National Forest, Montana. The Forest Service rates it trail class 3, developed. It is open to hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking and snowmobile.
Trail conditions, closures and hazards are not tracked here. The Kootenai National Forest official page carries current alerts and closure orders.
Map
One end Other endLine simplified to about 100 metres. Basemap from the USGS National Map.
| One end | 48.0677° N, 115.9248° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 48.0938° N, 115.9280° W · Directions ↗ |
The ends are the two ends of the longest connected chain of segments. The record does not say which is the usual start. The trail is recorded as 5 segments.
The trail
| Length | 4.7 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 12-20 percent |
| Typical tread width | 18-24 inches, 36-48 inches |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Evaluated and does not meet accessibility guidelines |
| Special management area | IRA - Inventoried Roadless Area |
| Trail numbers | 998 |
| Forest | Kootenai National Forest (unit 0114) |
| States | Montana |
| Detail published | management level, with uses |
Values are the set across all segments. Class 1 is minimally developed and class 5 is fully developed. Grade and width are the forest's typical values, not measured extremes.
Weather by month
Allowed uses
| Hiking | Allowed year-round |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed year-round |
| Mountain biking | Allowed year-round |
| Snowmobile | Allowed 12/01 to 04/30 (month/day) |
A use is listed when the Forest Service records it as managed, accepted or discouraged on any segment. Discouraged still means legal. Uses marked restricted are left out. Where the forest publishes a Motor Vehicle Use Map, that map governs motorized use.
Trailheads
#998 Big Eddy Trailhead No season published Motorized use: Big Eddy Trail #998 is open to vehicles up to 50” or less in width to the end of the two track portion of the trail (2.5 mile mark). Mechanized use: Big Eddy Trail #998 is open to mechanized use from the trailhead to the junction of Historic Big Eddy Trail #999 (2.8 mile mark). Properly possess and store all food, refuse, and other attractants pursuant to Kootenai National Forest Food Storage Order (CFR 261.58 (cc)). Please practice Pack-in-Pack-out and Leave-No-Trace ethics | under 0.1 mi |
#999 Historic Big Eddy No season published No motorized use. Mechanized use: Historic Big Eddy Trail #999 is open to mechanized use. However mechanized use is not advised due to occasional blowdown and tread conditions. Be advised Big Eddy Trail #998 from the junction of Historic Big Eddy Trail #999 to Star Peak Lookout is closed to mechanized use. Stock Use: Stock use is not recommended on Historic Big Eddy Trail #999 due to occasional blowdown and tread condition. Stock users are encouraged to use Big Eddy Trail #998. Properly possess and store all food, refuse, and other attractants pursuant to Kootenai National Forest Food Storage Order (CFR 261.58 (cc)). Please practice Pack-in-Pack-out and Leave-No-Trace ethics. | 0.1 mi |
Distance is from the point to the nearest part of the trail line. Season text is what the forest wrote and is often a season name rather than a date.
Trails nearby
Camping nearby
Campsite Atlas cards carry site counts and booking links from Recreation.gov. Forest Service cards come from the recreation layer and link the agency page.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedD7 Lazy Jack - Rx
7 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedD7 Rx Timbuck Stew
34 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedD7 Rx Boulder Dash
37 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedD6 Rx Long Mountain
37 mi from the trail midpoint
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge. Closure orders are on the forest's official page.
Explore
Guidebooks for Montana
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Big Eddy Trail?
The Forest Service records 4.7 miles under this name in Kootenai National Forest, the sum of 5 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Big Eddy Trail?
Hiking, horse and pack stock, mountain biking and snowmobile are allowed. The trail is closed to motor vehicles year-round. Some uses are seasonal. The allowed uses section lists the dates.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Where does the Big Eddy Trail start?
The line begins at 48.0677° N, 115.9248° W and ends at 48.0938° N, 115.9280° W. The nearest recorded trailhead is #998 Big Eddy Trailhead, under 0.1 miles from the line. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Big Eddy Trail in a wilderness area?
No. The trail line does not cross any polygon in the National Wilderness Preservation System layer.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Where can I camp near the Big Eddy Trail?
Big Eddy Campground (0.1 mi), Bull River Campground and Group Site (4.4 mi) and Triangle Pond (4.9 mi) are within five miles of the trail. The camping section lists all 4 with site counts and booking links.
Source: Campsite Atlas
How developed is the Big Eddy Trail?
Trail class 3, which the Forest Service describes as developed. Class 1 is a minimal, unimproved route and class 5 is fully developed, often paved.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
How steep and how wide is the Big Eddy Trail?
The typical grade is 12-20 percent. The typical tread is 18-24 inches wide.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Big Eddy Trail accessible?
No. The Forest Service evaluated it and found it does not meet its accessibility guidelines.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Big Eddy Trail?
Kootenai National Forest, Forest Service unit 0114. The trail is in Montana.
Is there a fire near the Big Eddy Trail?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest D7 Lazy Jack - Rx at 7 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 5 segments named Big Eddy in the Forest Service TrailNFS_Publish layer, administrative unit 0114. Wilderness overlap is tested against the National Wilderness Preservation System layer from Wilderness Connect. Trailheads and Forest Service campgrounds come from the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer. Data refreshed November 1, 2026. The methodology page explains how segments become trails.