Hughes Creek Road

The Hughes Creek Road, a county road located within the boundaries of the Bitterroot National Forest south of Darby, Montana, was recently closed by a private landowner. In May of this year , the Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife Association challenged this closure by researching county records and Commissioner’s Journals . They presented the County Commissioners and County Attorney with copies of the original road declaration making it a public road, a copy of the original Commissioners Journal, documentation on attempts to have it abandoned, the documented refusal by the County Commissioners to abandon it in 1982, and the history of the road up to October 19, 1988 . Our contact with the Bitterroot National Forest substantiates the claim of Ravalli County Fish and Wildlife and they tell us their findings have been submitted to the County Commissioners. The facts have now been presented and with patience we believe the public will prevail .

This is an excellent example of what private citizens and organizations can accomplish to counter road closures. (Some of the early successes of PLWA were in Western Montana and Ravalli County as a result of citizen involvement of this type and cooperation with county Clerk and Recorder offices. )

Contact ; Dr. Jim Olson jwodentist@aol.com