Mount Jumbo north zone in Missoula reopens May 1

MISSOULA, Mont. — A Missoula Parks and Recreation public service announcement said Mount Jumbo’s north zone was scheduled to reopen May 1 after a seasonal wildlife closure.

The announcement said the north zone includes all areas north of Saddle Road. It said the reopening aligned with the Jumbo elk herd moving into its summer range in the Rattlesnake Mountains.

The city closes much of the Mount Jumbo open space each year on December 1 after consulting with state wildlife biologists. The closure is intended to protect more than 100 elk and other wildlife that spend winter on the mountain’s lower elevations.

The announcement said the south zone, which includes areas south of Saddle Road, reopened March 13. The L Trail and US West Trail remained open year-round.

Parks and Recreation staff monitored elk presence through the winter with help from the citizen science Elk Spotters Program. Starting in early March, staff also monitored spring vegetation farther north on Mount Jumbo to help determine reopening dates.

The announcement said resource managers weighed elk presence, vegetation green-up and spring weather forecasts when deciding when to reopen the area. It also said Mount Jumbo is managed through a partnership between the City of Missoula, Lolo National Forest and Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks.

The agencies worked together on public access, habitat restoration, fuels management and seasonal closures.