Bitterroot National Forest

Bitterroot National Forest

Bitterroot National Forest is located in Hamilton, Montana. It occupies around 1.6 million acres of area around the Bitterroot National Valley in west central Montana and the Selway River drainage in the eastern region of central Idaho.

Bitterroot National Forest begins in the foothills of the mountain above Bitterroot River Valley and it extends into the Bitterroot mountain range to the west and Sapphire mountain region in the east. The forest contains grassland and forested regions.

View gazing can be done only by private owners to whom the land has been given on lease. Gazing is generally limited to the lower altitudes where there are less of forest land and more of grasses and shrub lands. As you go higher up in the mountains the grasses slowly give way to Douglas fir, larch and lodge pole pines. As you go higher up in elevation you will find the engel man spruce and the white bark pine trees. At about 8000 feet, there are no trees to be found and the region is filled with alpine flowers and grass.

In the denser regions of the forest wild animals such as black bear, mountain goat, bighorn sheep and elk are found. A constant meticulous effort is being made to reintroduce the grizzly bear in the region. The plan is to release 25 bears in a year in the wilderness regions of the forest for a period of five years. Various recreational activities like fishing can also be performed in this region.