Blacktail Canyon Road (Forest Road 1403)
Limestone canyon shelf road with fossil hunting
Blacktail Canyon cuts a narrow gorge through Madison limestone formations north of Dillon, creating a technical shelf road that clings to near-vertical walls 200 feet above Blacktail Creek. This former mining access road serves modern rockhounds hunting Paleozoic fossils and brachiopods in the exposed limestone layers. The route’s most challenging section – locally called ‘The Narrows’ – requires precise wheel placement on a 12-foot-wide shelf with no guardrails and sheer drops that’ll pucker the most experienced drivers.
High-clearance 4WD with good articulation is mandatory; the rocky surface and off-camber sections will high-center anything less capable. Avoid during wet conditions when limestone becomes slick as ice. June through September offers the best window, though afternoon thunderstorms can create dangerous flash flood conditions in the canyon bottom. No services within 25 miles – Dillon provides the nearest fuel and supplies. Dispersed camping is allowed in designated pull-offs, but space is extremely limited and turnarounds are scarce.
Trail Specs
| Difficulty | Difficult |
|---|---|
| Trail Type | Technical 4x4 |
| Surface | Rock |
| Features | Historic, Remote, Scenic |
| Length (miles) | 14 mi / 22.5 km |
| Duration | Half day |
| Max elevation (ft) | 7200 ft |
| Best season | June-September |
| Minimum vehicle | High-clearance 4WD with skid plates |
| Nearest town | Dillon, Montana |
| Land manager | Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest |
| Permit required | No |
| Cell service | None |
| Water crossings | Yes |
| Dispersed camping | Yes |
| Start coordinates | |
| End coordinates | |
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Location
Trail Conditions
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Frequently asked questions
Can a stock Jeep Wrangler handle Blacktail Canyon Road?
Yes, a stock Wrangler will work but you'll want skid plates for the rocky sections. The limestone ledges can be sharp and unforgiving on oil pans.
Is Blacktail Canyon Road passable in early May?
No, wait until June. Snow lingers at higher elevations and spring runoff makes water crossings dangerous.
Do I need permits for Blacktail Canyon Road?
No permits required. It's on Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest land with standard forest service rules applying.
What's the sketchiest part of this trail?
The narrow limestone shelf sections about halfway through where there's barely room for one vehicle and a steep drop-off. Take your time and spot each other.
Can I find fossils along the trail and keep them?
You can collect small fossils for personal use on forest service land, but no commercial collecting. The limestone exposures have tons of marine fossils from when this was an ancient seabed.