Glacier National Park will begin work in late July to permanently plug the historic Butte Oil Well near Kintla Lake after monitoring detected leaking gases from the site. The well predates the creation of Glacier National Park and has remained a unique reminder of early attempts to develop oil resources in northwest Montana before the land became part of the National Park System.
The National Park Service expects work to begin in late July with the project continuing over several weeks before reaching completion in fall 2026. Crews will use helicopters, boats, and specialized equipment to complete the work in the remote section of the park.
The project is being carried out through the National Park Service Abandoned Mineral Lands program, which addresses legacy mining sites and oil and gas wells established before lands became protected as national parks.
Temporary Trail Closures And Campground Impacts
Visitors planning trips to the Kintla Lake area should expect temporary closures and construction related disruptions during the project.
The Kintla Lake Wilderness Campground is expected to close beginning July 27th during helicopter operations and active construction. The closure is expected to remain in place through late August. Backpackers planning overnight trips should confirm current campground availability before finalizing travel plans.
The Kintla Boulder Pass Trail along Kintla Lake will also close intermittently during helicopter flights. Initial operations are scheduled for July 27th and July 28th between about 8am and 6pm. Two additional helicopter days will take place near the end of the project when crews remove equipment and materials that cannot be transported by boat. Those dates will be announced later.
The frontcountry campground at Kintla Lake will remain open throughout construction with first come first served camping available.
Visitors should also expect additional construction traffic along the Inside North Fork Road between Polebridge and Kintla Lake. Helicopter flights, heavy equipment, and construction activity may temporarily affect the normally quiet setting around the lake.
A Piece Of Glacier National Park History
The Butte Oil Well represents an unusual chapter in Glacier National Park history. Long before the park was established in 1910, prospectors explored the region for oil and drilled the well near Kintla Lake during an era when resource development was common across the American West.
Although the effort never produced a successful oil field, the well remained in place for decades as a rare artifact from that period. According to the National Park Service story map about the site, the well has become one of the few remaining examples of early petroleum exploration within the boundaries of a national park.
Recent monitoring found leaking gases, prompting the decision to permanently seal the well to protect park resources and reduce environmental risks while preserving the history of the location through documentation.
What Visitors Should Know
Despite temporary closures around the work zone, much of the Kintla Lake area will remain accessible throughout construction. Visitors traveling to this remote corner of Glacier National Park should be prepared for changing conditions, periodic delays, and increased aircraft activity during scheduled helicopter operations.
Anyone planning a backpacking trip or overnight stay should check for the latest campground availability and trail information before departing since access may change as construction progresses through the 2026 season.