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Welcome to the Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest!
Endless exploration
With 2.8 million acres of public land spread across mountain ranges from the Continental Divide to the eastern edges of central Montana, your favorite place is out there!
About Us
The scenic Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest stretches 2.8-million acres through central and north-central Montana. The Forest is comprised of island mountain ranges bisected by the Continental Divide and Missouri River and includes 6 ranger districts: Lincoln, Helena, Townsend, Judith - Musselshell, Rocky Mountain, and Belt Creek - White Sulphur Springs and 2 Forest Supervisor's offices located in Helena and Great Falls to oversee forest management in 17 counties.
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Features
Be Bear Aware!
The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is home to both black and grizzly bears, and provides important habitat for bears and other wildlife to use throughout the year. Learning about bears will help you become a more knowledgeable visitor to the forest, and will help keep both you and bears safe while sharing the woods.
Join the Helena-Lewis and Clark Resource Advisory Committee
The Forest Service is recruiting applicants for the Helena-Lewis and Clark Resource Advisory Committee (HLF RAC). The HLF RAC is an excellent way to get involved as a volunteer with your local national forest and help recommend projects for annually available Title II funds. This past spring, the HLF RAC recommended funding for 19 projects that helped disperse nearly $740,000 to benefit infrastructure maintenance, stewardship, and land and water quality in Broadwater, Meagher, Teton, Lewis and Clark, and Judith Basin counties.
View our recent news release to learn more!
Spotlights
Know Before You Go
Be aware of known trail and road closures on the forest before you head out!
Visit the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center
With programs for everyone, the Lewis and Clark Interpretive Center in Great Falls is an excellent place to visit year round.
Elkhorn Working Group
Learn more about the Elkhorns and the group of staff and volunteers committed to maintaining it to protect the land and wildlife that live there.
Recreation in the Dry Fork of Belt Creek Drainage
Learn about precautions to take when recreating near abandoned mines
