Welcome to the Kootenai National Forest

Summer Destinations

• Kootenai Falls and Swinging Bridge

  

• Ross Creek Cedars

  

• Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway

  

• Ten Lakes Scenic Area

  

• Stone Hill Rock Climbing

  

• Cabinet Mountains Wilderness

  

Latest Information

• Kootenai National Forest Facebook Feed

  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.

• Huckleberry Picking

  

  Huckleberry season has finally arrived in Montana and we hope you have the best time out and about on the forest in search of this delicious fruit. Just a friendly reminder that while gathering huckleberries for personal use is free on the Kootenai National Forest, we do not allow commercial picking or the reselling of those huckleberries.

  • Huckleberry Picking

• Mushroom Harvesting 2024

  

  For the 2024 season the Kootenai will only be offering one type of mushroom harvesting permit; Personal Use Free. Individuals may also harvest mushrooms at Incidental Use levels without a permit. For more information on mushroom picking, obtaining a permit, and incidental use, please use the following links.

  • Kootenai National Forest
  • Northern Region

• Trojan Defense Project

  

  The Trojan Defense Fuels Reduction Project is located just outside the beautiful town of Troy, Montana and located within the Wildfire Crisis Strategy – Kootenai Complex and the Lincoln County Wildland Urban Interface (WUI) which was designated to treat hazardous fuels surrounding the community. This project is a great example of linking treatments across land ownership and working together with our partners to reduce wildfire risk to communities.

  • Project Information
  • Overview Video

• Kootenai Complex Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscape

  

  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.

  • Northern Region Wildfire Crisis Strategy
  • Kootenai Complex Wildfire Crisis Strategy Landscape

• Great American Outdoors Act

  

  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.

  • More Info
  • Project Stories
  • Interactive Map

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.

Highlights

• Firewood Cutting

  

  

  Firewood Brochure

• Fire History Map

  

  

  View Interactive Map

• Maps

  

  

  Get Maps