Bitterroot National Forest
Bitterroot National Forest comprises 1.587 million acres (6,423 km2) in west-central Montana and eastern Idaho of the United States. It is located primarily in Ravalli County, Montana (70.26% of the forest), but also has acreage in Idaho County, Idaho (29.24%), and Missoula County, Montana (0.49%).
| Bitterroot National Forest | |
|---|---|
Trapper Peak in Bitterroot National Forest | |
| Location | Ravalli / Missoula counties, Montana; Idaho County, Idaho, United States |
| Nearest city | Missoula, MT |
| Coordinates | 46°13′58″N 113°57′49″W |
| Area | 1,587,070 acres (6,422.6 km2) |
| Established | 1898 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Bitterroot National Forest |
Founded in 1898, the forest is located in the Bitterroot and Sapphire Mountains with elevations ranging from 2,200 feet (650 m) along the Salmon River in Idaho to 10,157 foot (3,100 m) Trapper Peak. Roughly half the forest (743,000 acres, 3,000 km2) make up part or all of three distinct Wilderness areas. These areas include the Anaconda–Pintler, Selway–Bitterroot and Frank Church River of No Return Wildernesses. The distinction is that in wilderness areas, no roads, logging, mining or other construction is permitted and all access must be done either on foot or horseback; even bicycles are not permitted. Hunting, however is allowed forest-wide including wilderness areas.