Public access at Racetrack Pond Fishing Access Site limited during restoration work

Montana Fish, Wildlife & Park’s Racetrack Pond Fishing Access Site (FAS), located south of Deer Lodge, will have limited public access this year while construction takes place in the area. Visitors should expect a walk-in only boat launch and a relocated parking lot with a more primitive path to the pond and other facilities.

Specifically, the pond will remain open to recreation, but visitors will find that the parking area will be temporarily relocated, and the path to the pond, latrine and fishing pier will be more primitive and not ADA accessible. Visitors should be prepared to walk on uneven ground to the pond, fishing pier, latrine and to hand-launch boats.

Much of the surrounding state lands adjacent to the ponds will be closed. Closed areas will be signed and fenced.

The Montana Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) is the lead agency for the construction efforts, which are part of a multi-year remediation and restoration project in the Clark Fork River Superfund Site, an area impacted by contaminants from historic mining operations in Butte and Anaconda.

This phase of the clean-up project impacting the Racetrack Pond area is expected to last through October 2025 and possibly into the beginning of the 2026 construction season if needed.

For more information, contact DEQ Environmental Project Officers Jessica Banaszak at (406) 431-2252 or jessica.banaszak@mt.gov and Logan Dudding at (406) 431-2251 or logan.dudding@mt.gov.