Helena National Forest

Located in west-central Montana, the Helena National Forest surrounds Montana’s Capital City and offers close to one million acres of distinctive landscapes. Straddling the Continental Divide, the Helena National Forest is rich with natural and cultural resources. Its diverse topography and geology provides wonderful scenery and many recreational opportunities. The Forest's mountain ranges contain a wide diversity of plant and animal life. Native cutthroat trout and other fish species populate clear mountain lakes and streams. Evidence of past human use, ranging from ancient Indian cliff paintings to historic mining ruins, is everywhere.

The Scapegoat Wilderness occupies the far northwest portion of the Forest, about ten air miles north of the community of Lincoln, Montana. Nestled in the upper Blackfoot River drainage, Lincoln is a popular destination for big game hunting and snowmobiling, much of which takes place on the National Forest. On his return trip from the Pacific Ocean in 1806, Meriwether Lewis followed an ancient Nez Perce trail, the Cokalarishkit, which parallels the Blackfoot River before crossing the Continental Divide in the Alice Creek area.

Almost eighty miles of the Continental Divide National Scenic Trail stretch through the Helena National Forest, extending from the Scapegoat to the adjacent Deerlodge National Forest. Much of the area along the Divide is rich in mining history, and the town of Helena owes its origins to the discovery of gold in 1864. Numerous mining claims were patented over the years, and many of these private inholdings are now homesites.

The Big Belt Mountain Range lies east of Helena, extending south to Townsend. The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness area is situated on the north end of the Big Belts and takes its name from the distinctive cliffs along the Missouri River noted in the journals of Lewis and Clark. Much of the Big Belts are dissected by rugged limestone canyons and provide scenic enjoyment for hikers and motorists.

South of Helena, the Elkhorn Mountains are home to the only designated Wildlife Management Unit in the National Forest System. The mountain range is managed cooperatively with the Montana Department of Fish, Wildlife, and Parks, Deerlodge National Forest, and the Bureau of Land Management to optimize wildlife habitat and recreational opportunities.

Recreational opportunities in the forest include wildlife viewing, fishing, hiking, hunting, horseback riding, winter sports and dude ranch lodging, all of which are provided by America Outdoors outfitters.