Month: May 2020

The 163,000 acre Sioux Ranger District is located in the southeast corner of Montana and the northwest corner of South Dakota. The District is composed of eight separate Land Units and has often been described as "islands of green in a sea of rolling prairie." This is an appropriate description as the Federal Lands are hills or mesas of ponderosa pine rising above rolling grasslands. The area offers excellent antelope, mule deer, white-tail deer, and turkey hunting. The area is also rich in archeologicaland paleontological resources, produces some oil, and supports a sizable domestic livestock population.

The Sioux Ranger District is home to one of the largest population of merlin falcons in North America. There are numerous opportunities for dispersed recreation such as hiking, horseback riding, mountain biking, snowmobile riding, and cross country skiing throughout the District.  There are no designated hiking trails, but most of the ridges are open and provide spectacular panoramic views.  Two stocked fishing ponds with populations of crappie, bass, and rainbow trout can be found on the District.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 45° 34′ 52.9212″ N

Longitude 104° 3′ 20.2824″ W

The Beartooth Ranger District is located in south central Montana and encompasses the Beartooth and Pryor Mountain Ranges. The district office is located in Red Lodge, MT, 65 miles southwest of Montana’s largest city, Billings.  The district is known for its rugged mountains and sub-alpine tundra plateaus. The highest 41 peaks in Montana are located in the Beartooth Ranger District, including Granite Peak, which is the highest and stands at 12,799ft.

The district serves as the northeastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park and is home to the Beartooth Scenic Highway. The Beartooth Highway is consistently rated one of the most scenic mountain drives in America. The highway, open from Memorial Day to mid-October (weather permitting), climbs to 10,947ft and offers stunning vistas and many recreation opportunities on the Custer Gallatin National Forest and the Shoshone National Forest.

The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness makes up 65% of the Beartooth Unit and offers a wide range of scenic landscapes and hidden treasures. There are many trails that provide access to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, but be aware that travelling in the wilderness area comes with additional regulations.

For more information on the Beartooth Mountains, click here.

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The Pryor Mountain Unit of the district is located about 60 miles east of Red Lodge, MT adjacent to both the Crow Indian Reservation, BLM lands, and the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area. The dry limestone uplifts and formations create a stark contrast to the Beartooth Mountains. The views from the Pryor Mountains offer long, beautiful vistas of the surrounding countryside. The peak time for wildflowers is the month of July.

Some of the highlights of the Pryor Mountain Unit are Big Ice Cave, Dry Head Vista, and the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range.  The Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range is found on the eastern edge of the Pryor Mountains and is managed by the BLM.

For more information on the Pryor Mountains, click here.

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Recreation Opportunities on the Beartooth Ranger District are divided into four geographic locations:

• Beartooth Front (Red Lodge Creek, East Rosebud, West Rosebud, Benbow, Stillwater River area)
• Meyers Creek Area
• Pryor Mountains
• Red Lodge Area (US Hwy 212, West Fork of Rock Creek, Line Creek Area)

Maps:
Click here to see trail and area maps.
 

Important links:

• Know before you go (helpful travel information, weather, road conditions, forest fire information).

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 45° 7′ 38.3520″ N

Longitude 109° 32′ 23.5356″ W

The Hebgen Lake district encompasses the soutwest portion of Custer Gallatin National Forest stretching down the west boundary of Yellowstone National Park. West Yellowstone, MT is included. Hebgen Lake covers the central part of the district.

Directions

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 44° 40′ 1.1640″ N

Longitude 111° 5′ 58.5960″ W

A picnic area along the Yellowstone River on the Gardiner District.

 

Picnic sites:3

Accessible Facilities:
Tables
Toilet

Trash Pickup: No

Firewood: No

Information:
Gardiner Office
P.O. Box 5; 805 Scott St.
Gardiner, MT 59030
(406) 848-7375 

Directions

15 mi N of Gardiner on US 89

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 45° 10′ 4.6200″ N

Longitude 110° 51′ 10.1520″ W

A campground in the Gallatin Mountains on the Gardiner District.

 

Camp sites: 16
+ 2 Group

Accessible Facilities:
Food Boxes
Toilet

Trash Pickup: No

Firewood: No

Stock Facilities:
Corral adjacent to the trailhead

No Reservations: This campground does not use a reservation system, it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Be aware the campground may fill up on weekends & holidays during the summer months and you should arrive in the early afternoon to ensure there is a space available for the night.

Information:
Gardiner Office
P.O. Box 5; 805 Scott St.
Gardiner, MT 59030
(406) 848-7375
 

Nearby Activities

• Camping
• Hiking

Directions

17 mi NW of Gardiner on US 89, 12 mi SW on Tom Miner Rd

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 45° 7′ 45.7680″ N

Longitude 111° 3′ 45.1080″ W

A campground in the West Absaroka Mountains on the Gardiner District.

 

Camp sites: Dispersed

Accessible Facilities:
None

Trash Pickup: No

Firewood: No

Stock Facilities:
Corral

 

No Reservations: This campground does not use a reservation system, it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Be aware the campground may fill up on weekends & holidays during the summer months and you should arrive in the early afternoon to ensure there is a space available for the night.

Information:
Gardiner Office
P.O. Box 5; 805 Scott St.
Gardiner, MT 59030
(406) 848-7375
 

Nearby Activities

• Camping
• Hiking

Directions

5 mi NE of Gardiner on Jardine Rd, 4 mi NE on Forest Rd 493

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 45° 5′ 39.1920″ N

Longitude 110° 36′ 20.1600″ W

A picnic area in the West Absaroka Mountains on the Yellowstone District.

 

Picnic sites:3

Trash Pickup: No

Firewood:No

Information:
Livingston Office
5242 Hwy 89.
Livingston, MT 59047
(406) 222-1892
 

Directions

2 mi S of Livingston on US 89, 3 mi S on Rt 540, 3 mi E on Suce Creek Rd

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 45° 34′ 29.2800″ N

Longitude 110° 30′ 44.9640″ W

A picnic area in the Gallatin Canyon on Bozeman District.

 

Picnic sites: 4

Accessible Facilities:
Toilet

Trash Pickup: No

Firewood: No

Information:
Bozeman Office
3710 fallon Street
Bozeman, MT 59718
(406) 522-2520
 

Directions

19 mi S of Bozeman on US 191, 8 mi SE on Spanish Creek Rd

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 45° 26′ 48.8040″ N

Longitude 111° 22′ 39.2160″ W

THIS CAMPGROUND IS HARD SIDED CAMPING ONLY
 

 Open July 1 to September 7

A campground in Beartooth Country on the Gardiner District.

 

Maps: Soda Butte Campground Map

Camp sites: 27

Accessible Facilities:
Fire Grates
Food Boxes
Tables
Tent Pads
Toilets
Trash Cans
Water

Trash Pickup: No

Firewood: No

No Reservations: This campground does not use a reservation system, it is managed on a first-come, first-served basis. Be aware the campground may fill up on weekends & holidays during the summer months and you should arrive in the early afternoon to ensure there is a space available for the night.

Information:
Gardiner Office
P.O. Box 5; 805 Scott St.
Gardiner, MT 59030
(406) 848-7375

Nearby Activities

• Auto touring
• Camping

Directions

1 mi E of Cooke City on US 212

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 45° 1′ 27.0840″ N

Longitude 109° 54′ 43.2360″ W

A picnic area in the main boulder area on Yellowstone District.

 

Picnic sites: 2

Accessible Facilities:
Toilet

Trash Pickup: No

Firewood: No

Information:
Big Timber Office
P.O. Box 1130; 225 Big Timber Loop Rd.
Big Timber, MT 59011-1130
(406) 932-5155
 

Directions

25 mi S of Big Timber on US 298, 10 mi S on Cty Rd 212

GPS Coordinates

Latitude 45° 26′ 0.5640″ N

Longitude 110° 11′ 24.3600″ W