Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

The largest national forest in Montana at 3.36 million acres, Beaverhead-Deerlodge spans a vast swath of southwestern Montana encompassing rugged mountain ranges, broad valleys, and high-elevation plateaus. The forest protects two premier wilderness areas -- the Anaconda-Pintler Wilderness with its alpine lakes and granite peaks exceeding 10,000 feet, and the Lee Metcalf Wilderness bordering Yellowstone National Park. The headwaters of the Big Hole, Beaverhead, and Ruby Rivers flow through the forest, offering some of the finest blue-ribbon trout fishing in the American West, with native westslope cutthroat and Arctic grayling still found in remote tributaries. Historic gold rush towns like Bannack, Montana's first territorial capital and now a state park, dot the surrounding landscape. The Continental Divide Trail traverses the forest for over 200 miles, passing through wildflower-filled meadows and past remnants of early mining operations. Elk, moose, mountain goats, and black bears thrive throughout the forest's diverse habitats, making it a premier destination for hunting and wildlife viewing.