8 Mile Bench Road Summary

Access issues have been ongoing at 8 Mile Bench Road for a few years. A gate and “no trespassing” signs were put up in 2021. Members of the public have been harassed and threatened by a nearby landowner for using the road. Additionally, there is now “no motorized access” signage on previously mapped BLM roads. Old paper maps show the land as public for over 20 years, but newer 2021 BLM maps do not show the roads in question. There is a BLM marker at the top of the hill (see images below).

PLWA contacted BLM and they provided documentation indicating the road is now shown as private on new BLM maps based on new information provided by Choteau County. They claim it is the landowner’s legal right to gate the road. The lands previously used for hunting, camping, and other recreation has been lost.

PLWA will be working with volunteers and interested parties to do more county records research for 8 Mile Bench Road.