Montana · Hiking · Near Whitefish

Forest and Fire Nature Trail Fire Ecology

Forest and Fire Nature Trail Fire EcologyPhoto: astrophotography_andy, CC BY 2.0 (via Flickr)
Jul–Sep
best months

Is Forest and Fire Nature Trail Fire Ecology open right now?

Closure in the area

There's a closure order in Glacier National Park. It doesn't name Forest and Fire Nature Trail Fire Ecology, so check the source for the area it covers.

As of · Source: NPS · Glacier National Park. Agencies don't list every closure — check before you go.

This trail is a great place to explore a post-fire environment. Any disturbance—whether that’s a fire, an avalanche, a landslide, or a pest outbreak—resets the ecological clock. The mature trees die, opening the canopy to light and making way for new species to take hold. Gradually, the new forest matures—this is called ecological succession. Fire is unique because it favors certain species to grow back. As you hike, look for pink fireweed and other wildflowers that reseed an area after a fire. Beargrass, which is a small grassy tuft with a tall, white, Dr. Seuss-like flower, easily resprouts from its roots after a burn. If you’re here in the fall, keep an eye out for larch trees—they look like evergreens, but their needles turn bright golden in October and November. Their thick bark helps mature trees survive a fire when other trees may not. Afterward, their tiny wind-blown seeds shower across the burned area, planting thousands of new larch trees. This area burned in 1926, in 1967, and in 2001—relatively short intervals for a cool, wet place like Glacier. Learn more about how our forests are responding to more frequent fires in an episode of Glacier’s podcast, Headwaters. The episode is called “Climate and the Future of Forests” and features an interview with Dr. Tyler Hoecker. You can find the episode on glacier.org/headwaters, or wherever you get your podcasts.

Around this trail

Add any of these when you start a trip
  • Sleep close

    Big Creek Campground

    Campground

    Campground · 2.1 mi from the trail
  • Eat after

    Eddie's Cafe

    Restaurant

    Open after 6
  • If it rains

    The Bruck Bus-Truck

    Attraction

    In town

Places © OpenStreetMap contributors

More in Whitefish

Local outfitters

Not on Roamze yet. Their page has how to reach them.

  • Best time to go · Jul–Sep

    Best time to visit Forest and Fire Nature Trail Fire Ecology

    Best months: July–September. Best months have typical highs of 55–85 °F, lows of 30 °F or warmer (32 °F where the station doesn't record snow), at most one snowy day and no more than 12 wet days.

    1. Jan

      30° / 19°

      18 wet

    2. Feb

      34° / 19°

      15 wet

    3. Mar

      42° / 25°

      15 wet

    4. Apr

      53° / 31°

      14 wet

    5. May

      64° / 39°

      14 wet

    6. Jun

      70° / 45°

      14 wet

    7. Jul

      80° / 50°

      9 wet

    8. Aug

      79° / 48°

      7 wet

    9. Sep

      68° / 41°

      9 wet

    10. Oct

      52° / 33°

      13 wet

    11. Nov

      37° / 26°

      16 wet

    12. Dec

      29° / 20°

      18 wet

    Typical high / low (°F) and days with rain or snow, 1991–2020. Measured at W Glacier, MT, 10.7 mi away at 3,148 ft. This station doesn't record snowfall. Source: NOAA NCEI U.S. Climate Normals 1991–2020.

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