Quigley Group Use

Quigley Group Use Site sits in forested mountain terrain on the top of MacDonald Pass, about 15 miles west of Helena, Montana, on public land managed by the Helena Ranger District of the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Located right on the Continental Divide at 6,300 feet, beneath a canopy of lodgepole pine and Douglas fir, it has spectacular views of surrounding country encompassing meadows, timbered slopes and mountains. The site is available from June 1 to October 15 each year and closed at all other times. Quigley is an undeveloped camping area able to accommodate approximately 40 people, with space for 10-12 four-person tents. Trailer parking is limited and trailers should not exceed 20 feet in length. There are no camper hook ups and water is not available. There is one vault toilet on-site; large groups staying for a longer period often choose to have portable toilets delivered at the start of their stay and picked up before the end of it, at their own expense. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail runs due north and south just a few hundred feet from the group use site, at CDNST mile 616, and offers hiking, biking, hunting, photography and exploration. There is an extensive road system 10 miles to the west (Little Blackfoot) and five miles to the east (Rimini and Priest Pass), where many people use trucks or ride off-highway vehicles in the summer and fall to see the general area and old mining relics. The area to the south and north is sparsely roaded and offers a non-motorized, more remote experience. Nearby rugged ridges, meadows, forests and grasslands provide wildlife diverse ecosystems. Grizzly bear, deer, elk, gray wolf, moose, black bear and mountain lion all call the area home. The City of Helena is about 15 miles away via US Highway 12. Note that the area is near a campground and a trailhead, both well used by the general public all summer long. The area is not remote, and users can expect to encounter other people recreating.