Welcome to the
Kootenai National Forest

Come and Explore...

Encompassing the rugged beauty of the Rocky Mountains of Northwest Montana, the Kootenai provides tremendous opportunity for exploration. With abundant recreation and a wealth of natural resources, it is truly a place to relax and enjoy your National Forests!

Summer Destinations

  • Kootenai Falls and Swinging Bridge

    Photo thumbnail showing suspended bridge over river

  • Ross Creek Cedars

    Photo thumbnail showing giant cedar trees up close

  • Lake Koocanusa Scenic Byway

    Photo thumbnail showing Koocanusa reservoir body of water from a distance on a mountain top

  • Ten Lakes Scenic Area

    Photo thumbnail showing trees with lake in background

  • Stone Hill Rock Climbing

    Photo thumbnail showing rock cliff faces amidst trees

  • Cabinet Mountains Wilderness

    Photo thumbnail showing A-Peak mountain in the distance with greenery in the foreground

Latest Information

  • 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.

  • Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report

    Cover page for the USDA Forest Service Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report for the Kootenai National Forest. Contains an artists drawing below the title showing a stream with some trees with a mountain in the distance.

    The Kootenai National Forest has completed a Biennial Monitoring Evaluation Report (BMER) as required of the 2012 Planning Rule. It evaluates monitoring questions and indicators presented in the Land Resource Management Plan (LRMP) monitoring plan chapter, in relation to management actions carried out in the plan area.

    Monitoring Reports

  • Mushroom Permits 2022

    Photo showing a closeup of a morel mushroom

    The Kootenai National Forest is expecting an excellent crop of morel mushrooms this year due to the areas effected by wildfires in 2021.

    More Information

  • 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.

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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