Helena National Forest is located in west central Montana and
surrounds the capital city of Helena. The forest contains
976,000 acres and is one of 10 national forests in the state.
The Forest has a wide diversity of land types, ranging from
sagebrush-type low elevation rang elands to peaks rising over
9,400 feet. The Forest is roughly divided into two portions. The
westerly portion, with the Continental Divide forming the
backbone, extends from the south edge of the Bob Marshall
Wilderness to just east of the town of Deer Lodge. The easterly
portion, lying in the Big Belt mountain range, extends from the
south edge of the State of Montana Beartooth Game Range, and
runs to just east of Townsend. This Forest contains the Gates of
the Mountain Wilderness Area and a portion of the Scapegoat
Wilderness Area.Big-game species found in the area include bear,
elk, moose, big horn sheep, mule and whitetail deer and Rocky
Mountain goat. Along the trails, naturalists and photographers
can see a variety of songbirds, haw