Kootenai Rails-To-Trails
Kootenai Rails-To-Trails is a 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 and mountain biking.
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 | 48.8968° N, 115.1408° W · Directions ↗ |
| Other end | 48.8771° N, 115.0542° 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 | 7 miles |
| Trail class | 3, developed |
| Type | land trail |
| Surface | native material |
| Typical grade | 0-5 percent, 10-12 percent |
| Motor vehicles | Closed to all motorized use year-round |
| Accessibility | Not evaluated |
| National designation | National Scenic or Historic Trail |
| Trail numbers | 255 |
| 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 04/01 to 10/31 (month/day) |
| Horse and pack stock | Allowed |
| Mountain biking | Allowed 06/01 to 10/31 (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
The Forest Service recreation layer records no trailhead within a third of a mile of this trail's line. Many trails start from a road pullout or another trail with no trailhead record. The forest's recreation pages list the trailheads it does publish.
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
- PrescribedTl Blessed Be Landing Piles Rx
29 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedTl Tiny Timber Landing Piles Rx
36 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedStw New Acquisition Rx
37 mi from the trail midpoint
- PrescribedD7 Rx Boulder Dash
50 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
Historic places nearby
Guidebooks for Montana
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How long is the Kootenai Rails-To-Trails?
The Forest Service records 7 miles under this name in Kootenai National Forest, the sum of 5 segments.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
What is allowed on the Kootenai Rails-To-Trails?
Hiking, horse and pack stock and mountain biking 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 Kootenai Rails-To-Trails start?
The line begins at 48.8968° N, 115.1408° W and ends at 48.8771° N, 115.0542° W. No Forest Service trailhead is recorded within a third of a mile of it. The record does not say which end is the usual start.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Kootenai Rails-To-Trails 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 Kootenai Rails-To-Trails?
Tobacco River Campground (under 0.1 mi), Rexford Bench (0.1 mi) and Camp 32 (4.3 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 Kootenai Rails-To-Trails?
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 Kootenai Rails-To-Trails?
The typical grade is 0-5 percent on most segments and 10-12 percent on others.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Is the Kootenai Rails-To-Trails a national trail?
Yes. The record marks it as a National Scenic or Historic Trail.
Source: Forest Service trail layer
Who manages the Kootenai Rails-To-Trails?
Kootenai National Forest, Forest Service unit 0114. The trail is in Montana.
Is there a fire near the Kootenai Rails-To-Trails?
The interagency feed shows 4 active incidents within 50 miles of the trail midpoint as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Tl Blessed Be Landing Piles Rx at 29 miles. Check the forest's closure orders before you go.
Source: Fire nearby
Source
This page is built from 5 segments named Kootenai Rails-To-Trails 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.