23-2-322. Prescriptive easement not acquired by recreational use of surface waters. (1) A prescriptive easement is a right to use the property of another that is acquired by open, exclusive, notorious, hostile, adverse, continuous, and uninterrupted use for a period of 5 years. (2) A prescriptive easement cannot be acquired through: (a) recreational use of surface waters, including: (i) the streambeds underlying them; (ii) the banks up to the ordinary high-water mark; or (iii) any portage over and around barriers; or (b) the entering or crossing of private property to reach surface waters. History: En. Sec. 5, Ch. 556, L. 1985.
Montana Legal Code
§ 23-2-322
Source: https://mca.legmt.gov/bills/mca/title_0230/chapter_0020/part_0030/section_0220/0230-0020-0030-0220.html· Version 2025