Sequestration didn't close Flathead Forest campgrounds

While the federal government warned that this year’s budget sequestration would result in campground closures in national forests, that didn’t happen in the Flathead.

Flathead National Forest spokesman Wade Muehlhof said last week that all the campgrounds in Flathead, except those having work done on them, have opened.

The Flathead Forest has 31 developed campgrounds from the North Fork to the Swan Valley. Fourteen are run by a private concessionaire, Barta Enterprises of West Yellowstone. The rest are managed by the Forest Service.

In Glacier National Park, some campground openings were delayed a week or more. The popular Kintla Lake campground didn’t open until June 14 this year — a delay of three weeks.

Several campgrounds in Glacier Park will close earlier. Sprague Creek, Rising Sun, Two Medicine and Cut Bank campgrounds will all close one week earlier this fall.

Sprague Creek, Rising Sun, Kintla Lake, Bowman Lake and Avalanche Creek will close Sept. 2. Two Medicine and Cutbank will close Sept. 8.

St. Mary will have reduced services Sept. 8 but will remain open all year long with no water and a pit toilet.