Kootenai West Wildlife Management Area
Managed by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks
910 acres3.9 mi of trail
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
–Not graded
Outdoors in West Kootenai
More than half of West Kootenai’s land is conserved: 61%
61% of West Kootenai’s land is conserved, about 6,263 acres. The biggest trail networks: Kootenai West Wildlife Management Area (3.9 mi), Kootenai National Forest (2.6 mi). 50 miles of mapped trail cross West Kootenai, 3.1 per square mile of land.
Conserved land
61%
6,263 acres · of 16.1 sq mi of land
Trails
50 mi
3.1 per sq mi of land
Near a park
under 1%
of residents within ½ mile
Highest peak
2,828 ft
Olsen Hill
Lakes & rivers
4
The map
Conserved land, trails & bike routes
Tap a number to zoom to a park. Tap a layer to hide it.
Easements protect land from building but are usually private.© OpenStreetMap contributors · USGS PAD-US
Places to walk
Pick a walk
The longest trail network is Kootenai West WMA, with 3.9 miles. Directions go to the nearest trailhead or public parking.
Kootenai National Forest
Managed by United States Forest Service
936 acres2.6 mi of trail
National Forest Development Road 7212
Dog rules not recorded
No trailhead mapped yetWebsite ↗
Who protects it
6,263 conserved acres
61% of West Kootenai’s land. Who manages West Kootenai’s conserved land, from the USGS Protected Areas Database. Approximate, because parcels can overlap.
U.S. Forest Service5,354 ac
State fish & wildlife910 ac
National Forest · 5,354 acState Conservation Area · 910 ac
The biggest protected parcels
| Parcel (PAD-US) | Managed by | Acres | Public access |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kootenai National Forest National Forest | U.S. Forest Service | 5,354 | Open |
| West Kootenai Wildlife Management Area State Conservation Area | State fish & wildlife | 910 | Restricted |
Things to do
2 places to go in West Kootenai
Beaches, playgrounds, peaks, falls and more. Pick a kind.
Peaks in West Kootenai
Olsen Hill2,828 ft elevation
DirectionsSand Hill2,523 ft elevation
DirectionsTrails & water
6 named trails and 4 lakes & rivers
Named trails
National Forest Development Road 72202.3 mi
National Forest Development Road 72181.2 mi
National Forest Development Road 72121.1 mi
National Forest Development Road 71871.0 mi
National Forest Development Road 71860.8 mi
National Forest Dev Road 71750.7 mi
Lakes & rivers tap for directions
When to get out
The best walking months in West Kootenai: May to September
NOAA’s 1991–2020 normals for the town and the daylight at its latitude. Outlined months have long days, highs of 59 to 86 °F and little rain for the place.
| Jan | Feb | Mar | Apr | May | Jun | Jul | Aug | Sep | Oct | Nov | Dec | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Daylight (h) | 8.7 | 10.1 | 11.7 | 13.6 | 15.3 | 16.2 | 15.8 | 14.4 | 12.5 | 10.7 | 9.1 | 8.3 |
| High (°F) | 31 | 37 | 47 | 57 | 67 | 73 | 83 | 82 | 71 | 55 | 39 | 30 |
| Rain (in) | 1.2 | 1.0 | 1.1 | 1.2 | 1.9 | 2.4 | 1.2 | 0.9 | 1.3 | 1.4 | 1.7 | 1.4 |
August is the driest month (0.9 in) and July the warmest (highs of 83 °F). 2.4 inches fall in June, the wettest month. The climate in West Kootenai →
Questions about parks and trails in West Kootenai
Where can I hike in West Kootenai?
The longest trail networks: Kootenai West Wildlife Management Area, 3.9 miles; Kootenai National Forest, 2.6 miles. Each one is on the map above, with directions to the nearest trailhead or parking.
Are dogs allowed on West Kootenai’s trails?
Kootenai West Wildlife Management Area and Kootenai National Forest don’t have dog rules recorded on the map; check the signs at the trailhead.
Is there public land near West Kootenai?
137,856 acres of parks and open public land lie inside West Kootenai or within 10 miles of it (PAD-US), 5,987 of them inside the town line.
Trail talk
Conditions, parking and favorite walks from West Kootenai neighbors.
Share a tip
Sources
Where this page comes from
Conserved and public land: USGS Protected Areas Database of the United States (PAD-US), service updated July 2026. Parks, trails, playgrounds, beaches and other places: OpenStreetMap (© OpenStreetMap contributors, ODbL), map data as of 2026-10-28. Land and water area: Census 2025 Gazetteer. Residents near a park: 2020 Census blocks. National Register: National Park Service. How TownRatings grades the outdoors →