Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest

Quick Facts

Montana

(406) 683-3900

Map Directions

Things To Do

Overview

Located in Southwest Montana, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is the largest of the national forests in Montana. The forest offers breath-taking scenery for a wide variety of recreation pursuits. Whether it's wilderness trekking in the Anaconda-Pintler or Lee Metcalf wildernesses, driving the Gravelly Range Road or Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway, or camping in one of the 50 small to medium-sized campgrounds in the forest, the Beaverhead-Deerlodge has it all. Winter enthusiasts find snowmobiling, cross-country skiing trails, as well as downhill skiing at Discovery, near Anaconda, and Maverick Mountain, near Dillion. Summertime affords chances to hike and drive primitive routes to high-mountain lakes or to drive more improved roads to places like Delmoe and Wade lakes. The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and Nez Perce Historic Trail pass through the forest. Georgetown Lake offers winter and summer recreation near Philipsburg. At the ghost towns of Elkhorn and Coolidge, you can relive Montana's boom and bust past. Sheepshead Recreation Area, north of Butte, offers pleasant picnicking and lake fishing, accessible for the disabled. The Forest covers 3.32 million acres.

Map of Beaverhead-Deerlodge Nat'l Forest

Latitude, Longitude: 46.128460, -112.830963

Boating
Opportunities for non-motorized boating use on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest are endless. Or enjoy a summer day from the hull of your boat on one of the many lakes designated for motorized boating on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
Bicycling
There are opportunities for biking on paved roads and on designated trails.
Auto/Motorcycle
OHV riding is a popular pastime here. There are a large number of trails and roads that are OHV accessible. Call or check out the website for more information.
Camping
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest offers a wide array of sites for camping, including cabins, campgrounds with group, tent and RV sites, and dispersed campgrounds throughout the forest. Many sites are available on a first-come, first-served basis and some may be reserved.
Fishing
This National Forest offers lake and pond fishing, as well as river and stream fishing. There are also opportunities for ice fishing in the winter.
Hiking
Whether you are interested in day hikes or backbacking into the wilderness, the forest has trails for you. Grab your pack, water bottle, and hiking shoes and enjoy all of the wonders the Forest has to offer. From crystal clear high mountain lakes to valley floors covered in wildflowers, backpackers can enjoy the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest.
Historic Sites
Geocaching (finding hidden items using handheld Global Positioning Systems) and letterboxing (similar to geocaching, but the hidden object is a stamp which the finder uses to stamp a piece of paper proving he/she found the site) are popular recreation activities.
Horseback Riding
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest has numerous horse friendly trails available to enjoy from the saddle. Many trailheads on the Pioneer Scenic Byway have hitching posts and some have loading ramps.
Hunting
Hunting is permitted in accordance with Montana state regulations. The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest is famous for big game such as elk, mule deer, white-tailed deer, black bear, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goat and antelope. Elk are the most sought after by hunters, making Southwest Montana the highest hunting use area in the state.
Off Highway Vehicles
OHV riding is a popular pastime here. There are a large number of trails and roads that are OHV accessible. Call or check out the website for more information.
Picnicking
The Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest offers a variety of picnicking locations to enjoy the natural beauty of the scenery, plants, and wildlife that reside on the Forest all while you eat your meal!
RVing
Many campgrounds offer amenities specifically suited for RVs, and can accommodate various lengths and configurations of recreational vehicles.
Water Sports
With 220 lakes located on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest, there are plenty of opportunities to go swimming, boating, and water skiing!
Winter Sports
Winter on the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest opens up endless recreational opportunites for cross country and downhill skiers and snowshoe enthusiasts to enjoy. For the snowmobile enthusiast, there are trails around Georgetown Lake and east of the Deer Lodge Valley.