State and National Forests

Western Montana’s Public Forestlands

Andy Austin

Western Montana’s Public Forestlands

Montana’s national forests contain most of the state’s designated wilderness areas and Western Montana claims more than 8 million acres of national forestland made up of jagged mountains, rolling foothills, pristine woodlands, sparkling lakes and rivers and remote wilderness. In addition, seven of Montana’s eight state forests fall within Western Montana’s Glacier Country.

NATIONAL FORESTS IN WESTERN MONTANA

Bitterroot National Forest
1.6 million acres in southwest Montana and Idaho.

Flathead National Forest
2.4 million acres west of the continental divide and just south of the Canadian border.

Kootenai National Forest
2.2 million acres in the far northwest corner of Montana and the northeast corner of Idaho on the Canadian border.

Kaniksu National Forest
1.6 million acres in northeastern Washington, the Idaho panhandle, and northwestern Montana.

Lolo National Forest
2 million acres in west central Montana.

STATE FORESTS IN WESTERN MONTANA

Clearwater State Forest
Missoula County

Coal Creek State Forest
Flathead County

Lubrecht State Experimental Forest
Missoula County

Stillwater State Forest
Flathead County

Sula State Forest
Ravalli County

Swan River State Forest
Lake County

Thompson River State Forest
Sanders County

Other Listings

Bear Creek Guest Ranch
15750 U.S. Highway 2
Essex, MT 59916
406-226-4489
Mills Wilderness Adventures of MT
1 Hogan St.
Augusta, MT 59410
406.562.3576
Northwest Montana Retreat
2327 Rabbit Creek Road
Troy, MT 59935
Whitefish Outfitters & Tours
541 Spokane Ave.
Whitefish, MT 59937
406.212.0080
News from Glacier National Park Currently, 17 miles of the Going-to-the-Sun Road are open for travel.