a diverse and stunning landscape, 3+ million acres, critical to the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and stretching to the remote buttes and pine savannahs of southeastern MT and South Dakota. Flooding Damage - visit Alerts and Notices for the latest on sites closed.

Custer National Forest is located primarily in the south central part of the U.S. state of Montana but also has separate sections in northwestern South Dakota. With a total area of 1,188,130 acres (4,808 km 2), the forest comprises over 10 separate sections.

We offer a range of experiences from boardwalk trails designed to meet national accessibility guidelines to trails with a rocky, uneven surface – and even those in-between that have a firm and stable dirt surface.

The Beartooth Mountains are home to the highest 41 peaks in Montana, including Granite Peak, which is the highest at 12,799ft. The district serves as the northeastern gateway to Yellowstone National Park and is home to the Beartooth Scenic Highway.

The vast distances across which this Forest is spread results in a very diverse landscape. Ancient sand dunes covered with grasslands, rugged badlands, densely wooded forests, and carpets of alpine wildflowers all await you.

As Gateway to Yellowstone National Park, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness and the Lee Metcalf Wilderness; the Forest features many adventures among rugged mountains, including the tallest in Montana to remote Buttes and Bluffs.

Recreation.gov is the government's centralized travel planning platform and reservation system for 14 federal agencies, offering the tools, tips, and information needed for you to discover destinations and activities, plan a trip, and explore outdoor and cultural destinations in your zip code and across the country.

One of the most ecologically diverse regions of Montana, the Custer-Gallatin National Forest is in Yellowstone Country, bordering the national park. Within it, you’ll find similar geology and a number of unique ways to engage with the natural landscape.

The Custer National Forest is the most ecologically diverse forest in the Northern Region, reaching from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness near Red Lodge, Montana to the grasslands of South Dakota.

Discover some of the best hikes in Custer Gallatin National Forest that will take you through glacial lakes, alpine meadows, and awe-inspiring peaks. Whether you’re seeking a quick family outing or a multi-day backcountry trek, there’s a trail for everyone.