Welcome to the Kootenai National Forest

 
Grahpic of a brown Forest Service signboard with white text stating Kootenai National Forest U.S. Department of Agriculture

Come and Explore...

Encompassing the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains of Northwest Montana, the Kootenai provides tremendous opportunity for exploration!

About the Forest

Winter Destinations

  • Turner Mountain Ski Area

    Photo thumbnail of a downhill ski area with visible runs amongst the trees

  • South Flower Cross-Country Ski Trail

    Photo of cross-country skiers on a trail with mountains in the background

  • Flatiron Mountain Ski Trail

    Photo of a backcountry skier on a snow-covered ridgetop

  • Ross Creek Cross-Country Ski Trail

    Photo of a snowmobile grooming a cross-country ski trail

  • Snowmobile Trails

    Photo showing a snowmobile on a snow covered road

Latest Information

  • U.S. Forest Service - Kootenai National Forest
    Keep up with the latest on the Kootenai on our Facebook page. Click the + sign (above) to expand the section and view the Kootenai NF Facebook Feed or go directly to our Facebook page.

  • Kootenai Complex Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscape

    A small scale map of western Montana and Northern Idaho shows the Kootenai Complex and Nez Perce-Clearwater-Lower Salmon WCS Landscapes and the total 33 firesheds identified in the Wildfire Crisis Strategy in the Northern Region, 9 of which are in the designated landscapes.

    In April 2022, Secretary of Agriculture Vilsack designated 10 fire prone landscapes across the Western United States as initial priorities for implementing the Wildfire Crisis Strategy. This strategy outlines dramatic action that must be taken to treat hazardous fuels and reduce the risk of wildfire to communities, infrastructure, and municipal watersheds. On the Kootenai and Idaho Panhandle National Forests, The Kootenai Complex was included in the initial landscape designation and plans to treat nearly 45,000 acres in 3 priority firesheds by 2026.

  • Great American Outdoors Act

    Looking out the windows of a firelookout at snow dusted peaks beyond.

    The Great American Outdoors Act gave the USDA Forest Service new opportunities to deliver benefits to the American public through major investments in recreation infrastructure, public lands access, and land and water conservation. These investments will contribute to economic growth and job creation in rural America.

Interested in Receiving Forest Project Notifications?

For each new project on the Kootenai National Forest after July 10, 2023 you can sign up to receive project updates automatically using the signup form below.

Sign up for Email Updates

To sign up for email updates on forest projects or to access your subscriber preferences, please enter your contact information below.

Highlights

Features

Food Storage Requirements on the Kootenai National Forest

Animal resistant food container

A food storage order signed in April, 2022 requires food storage and garbage practice across the Forest to reduce the potential for human-wildlife encounters.

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Quick Links

Highlights

  • Current Conditions
    Stay current on weather and road conditions for your visit to the Kootenai
  • Be Bear Aware!
    Learn about bear safety and the Forest mandatory food storage order.
  • Firewood Cutting [PDF, 183K]
    Firewood permits remain free in Northern Region Forests through December 31, 2022, but you must obtain a free permit and abide by it when cutting. Contact your local office to obtain a required permit.
  • The Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail OffSite Link

    The Kootenai is home to a portion of the Pacific Northwest National Scenic Trail.