Getting Oriented
Pipestone sits in the low mountains and sagebrush benches east of Butte, where I-90 climbs out of the Clark Fork valley toward the Continental Divide. The Bureau of Land Management's Butte Field Office manages the 30,000-acre travel management area, and its trails run directly into the adjoining Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, so riders cross agency boundaries without noticing a change in the road. Locally the whole network goes by Whitetail-Pipestone. Elevations across the riding area run roughly 4,500 to 5,500 feet, giving it a low-alpine, high-desert character: open sagebrush flats, stands of lodgepole and Douglas fir, and rock outcrops that break up the rolling terrain.
Trail Overview
The BLM side of the system carries about 75 miles of numbered, developed trails, each posted with a technical difficulty rating. BLM 1, the main road in from the Pipestone Trailhead parking area, is a flat, wide gravel route rated easy, and functions mostly as the access road to everything else. Harder routes branch off it: the Pipestone Exit Trail (BLM 16) climbs 2.55 miles of rock and embedded whoops at a tech rating of 4, and BLM 14 covers 4.43 miles at the same rating. A short spur called Washout crosses a rutted creek drainage over 0.94 miles at tech rating 3. Surface throughout is mostly hard-packed dirt with loose rock in the technical sections; there's little sand or mud. Many routes carry a 50-inch vehicle width limit, so full-size trucks and Jeeps are confined to the wider connector roads. The area is open year-round, weather permitting, though some routes close seasonally for wildlife or mud; check the current status on the BLM's Avenza map before heading out.
Points of Interest
- Whitetail-Pipestone trail connections. BLM routes tie directly into more OHV trail on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest's Butte Ranger District, extending the ride well past the BLM boundary.
- Delmoe Lake. A small reservoir built and controlled by the Pipestone Water Users for irrigation, with a boat launch used mostly for fishing rather than riding.
- Three staging areas. Four Corners, Delmoe Lake, and the Lower Pipestone Parking Area give riders separate points to park, unload, and air down.
Where to Camp
Free dispersed camping is allowed on BLM land throughout the area; there are no designated sites, so riders spread out along established roads and trails. The Lower Pipestone Trailhead has vault toilets but no water.
For a developed option, Delmoe Lake Campground and Picnic Area, run by the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, has 25 sites for tents and trailers up to 32 feet, potable water, vault toilets, and the lake's boat launch. It typically runs Memorial Day weekend through mid-September, weather dependent, at $15 a night plus $5 per additional vehicle. Riders should confirm the campground is open with the Butte Ranger District before counting on it, since the site has had construction closures.
Tips for a Safe and Enjoyable Trip
- Montana requires an OHV trail pass to ride public land: a $20 two-year pass for residents, a $35 annual permit for nonresidents, both through Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks.
- Check the width of the trail before hauling out a full-size UTV; a lot of the numbered routes cap out at 50 inches.
- There's no fuel or potable water inside the OHV area outside the Delmoe Lake camping season. Fill up in Butte (about 15 miles) or Whitehall (about 20 miles), both reachable from I-90.
- Cell service is reported as reliable near I-90 and the staging areas; it hasn't been confirmed on the interior trails, so carry a paper map or the offline Avenza map as backup.
- For current trail status, closures, or the Whitetail-Pipestone map, call the BLM Butte Field Office at 406-533-7600 or the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest Supervisor's Office at 406-683-3900.
Fuel and Water
No fuel or potable water is available inside the OHV area, except at Delmoe Lake Campground during its Memorial Day-to-mid-September season. The nearest gas and convenience stores are in Butte, about 15 miles west on I-90, and Whitehall, about 20 miles south.
Nearby
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest's Butte Ranger District borders the BLM land directly and carries the trail system further east. Butte, Montana's largest nearby town, sits 15 miles west with full services and is the area's historic copper-mining hub. Whitehall, a smaller town to the south, offers a closer fuel stop for riders approaching from that side. Delmoe Lake, inside the riding area, is a small irrigation reservoir with a boat launch for anglers.
