Flathead National Forest
May 6, 2009 by RV Camper
Filed under Montana Campgrounds, Montana Forests
Flathead National Forest
Flathead National Forest is a national forest spread across 2.3 million acres in the western part of the U.S. state of Montana. The forest is named after the Flathead Indians who were the original residents of this forest.
One million acres of this forest has been designated as wilderness. The Flathead forest lies from below the 1400 to 2600 m range of the Rocky Mountains. The forest is a home for about 250 species of wildlife among which include the very dangerous grizzly bear, lynx, bald eagle and the bull trout.
22 species of fish can also be found here. We can also find a very rare plant named water howellia and the endangered grey wolf species. A whole lot of commercial activities such as timber harvesting and cattle grazing are also performed in this region. Commercial activities are limited to the non-wilderness regions of the forest only.
There are a few restrictions such as individuals cannot pick more than or equal to 10 gallons of berries at a time without permit from the governing body. Firewood and Christmas tree cutting, mushroom or mineral gathering and camping in the wilderness regions also require permits.
The forest is primarily located in the Flathead County, which accounts for almost 73% of the acreage but it also extends to five other Counties. The five Counties are Powell, Missoula, Lake, Lewis and Clark and Lincoln. The forest consists of almost 2700 kms of roads, mainly primitive style fire roads and also 4500 kms of hiking trails.