Overview

The Lewis & Clark National Forest is one of ten beautiful national forests in the Northern Region. It lies in the upper Missouri River system and boasts elevations from 4500 to over 9300 feet. The region southeast of Glacier offers some spectacular vistas as well as plenty of outdoor fun.

Location/Directions

Lewis Clark National Forest lies in central and north-central Montana and can be reached using access points from Choteau, Montana. To get to Choteau from East Glacier Park, Montana, take US 2 to US 89, an 85-mile drive. For more information, contact the Lewis and Clark National Forest by mail at PO Box 869, Great Falls, Montana 59403 or call 406-791-7700.

Seasons

Lewis and Clark Forest is accessible all year.

Activities

Lewis and Clark NF offers a wide range of activities for all outdoor enthusiasts.

• Fishing
  Within Lewis and Clark National Forest, you’ll find plenty of rainbow and brown trout, as well as some cutthroat. Go to the Gibson Reservoir to make your trophy catch. Along the Sun River you can take advantage of 15 miles of shoreline.
• Hunting
  A haven for large game animals, you can enjoy hunting mule deer, whitetail deer, bighorn sheep and bear in Lewis & Clark Forest. Getting the proper license is, of course, a necessity, but once you have it, you’ll experience some of the best hunting in Montana.
• Wildlife Watching
  If you’d rather just watch animals in their native habitat, this national forest offers the chance to do just that. See grizzlies, mountain goats, lynx and wolverines. Perhaps you will spot some bighorn sheep, elk or gray wolves.
• Camping
  Camping out in the wilds gives everyone an opportunity for some solitude and communing with nature. There are many campgrounds within Lewis and Clark National Forest and close to the Continental Divide.
• Scenic Driving
  Travel through the Little Belt Mountains on US 89 for some spectacular views. The Kings Hill National Scenic Byway is the most popular, tracing a route between Glacier and Yellowstone National Parks.

Additional Info

The Lewis and Clark expedition passed through this forest between 1804 and 1806. Before that, only Native Americans such as the Blackfeet, Cheyenne and Crow had used these forestlands for hunting and as protection from the cold winters.