The national forests and grasslands of Montana reach from rugged mountaintops and steep timbered canyons in western Montana to eastern prairies and badlands. When the snow covers these 16.8 million acres of public lands, they become a winter wonderland.

Eleven downhill ski areas on national forest lands provide slopes for every talent. These winter sports areas have been developed in cooperation with private industry and are operated under national forest special-use permits.

In addition to spectacular downhill runs, there are vast and diverse landscapes for cross-country skiers and snowmobilers. Cross-country skiers can follow more than 600 miles (950 km) of designated ski-touring trails of varying difficulty across timbered slopes, open meadows and ridgelines. There are also thousands of miles of ungroomed recreation territory.

A Guide to Your Northern Region National Forests will give you the locations of all nine national forests in Montana. This guide and maps of the individual national forests and winter recreation trails are available from the USDA Forest Service, Northern Region, or the individual national forest (addresses below).

Forest Service Cabin and Lookout Rentals- For those who seek a true backcountry experience, the Forest Service has rustic cabins and lookouts for rent on a first-come, first-served basis. Cabins are furnished with the bare basics (table, chairs, wood stove and bunks). Bedding is not furnished. Forest Service personnel at the national forest in which the cabin is located can tell you what you need to bring. For a Recreational Cabin and Lookout Directory, write or call the U.S.D.A. Forest Service, Northern Region.

Cross-Country Forest Reference Guide:

1. Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forests 2. Flathead National Forest 3. Gallatin National Forest 4. Helena National Forest 5. Kootenai National Forest 6. Lewis and Clark National Forest 7. Lolo National Forest * For More Information/Contacts

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BEAVERHEAD-DEERLODGE NATIONAL FORESTS

Chief Joseph Cross-Country Trails
Location	28 miles west of Wisdom
Trails	24.6 total km of Groomed trails, (8 km Easiest, 14.5 km More Difficult, 2.1 km Most Difficult) Weekly grooming by the Bitterroot Ski Club. Maps available at trailhead.
Contacts	District Ranger, Wisdom, MT 59761, (406) 689-3243 District Ranger, Sula, MT 59871, (406) 821-3201
Other Info	Starts on North side of MT 43 at Chief Joseph Pass. Eight loop trails.

FOREST INDEX

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FLATHEAD NATIONAL FOREST

Round Meadows
Location	15 miles northwest of Whitefish
Trails	12.5 total km of Groomed Trails, (5.3 km Easiest, 1.4 km Most Difficult) Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, Whitefish, MT 59937, (406) 863-5400
Other Info	Snowmobiles prohibited! Dogs must be controlled. Combination of trees and meadows; moose sightings possible. Snowshoers welcome. Large plowed parking lot. Restrooms and information board.
Blacktail Mountain
Location	8 miles West of Lakeside
Trails	40.5 km total of Groomed Trails, 10 km Easiest, 30.5 km More Difficult Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, Bigfork, MT 59911, (406) 837-7500
Other Info	No skiing on plowed Blacktail Mountain Road. Spectacular views of Flathead Lake & Valley and four mountain ranges.

FOREST INDEX

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GALLATIN NATIONAL FOREST

Bear Creek Road
Location	Jardine (5 miles above the town of Gardiner)
Trails	6.4 total km of Groomed trails, (6.4 km Easiest) Trails are groomed for skating. Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, Gardiner, MT 59030, (406) 848-7375
Other Info	Easy climb through timber along Bear Creek Road. Only occasionally groomed.
Rendezvous Complex
Location	West Yellowstone
Trails	42 total km of Groomed trails, 14 km Easiest, 16 km More Difficult, 12 km Most Difficult. Trails are groomed for skating. Daily grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, West Yellowstone, MT 59758, (406) 646-7369
Other Info	Used by the U.S. Olympic Team in November 2001 as official site of fall training camp. Dogs and snowmobiles prohibited. Groomed Daily 12/1 - 3/30. Fee: $3 per day, season pass available.

FOREST INDEX

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HELENA NATIONAL FOREST

MacDonald Pass
Location	15 miles west of Helena
Trails	12 total km of Groomed trails, (5 km Easiest, 5 km More Difficult, 3 km Most Difficult). 5 km are Groomed for skating. Weekly grooming by the Last Chance Ski Club.
Contacts	District Ranger, Helena, MT 59601, (406) 449-5490 The Base Camp, Helena, MT 59601, (406) 449-5360
Other Info	Snowmobiles prohibited; no dogs please. Three of the four loop trails are groomed by the Last Chance Nordic Ski Club.

FOREST INDEX

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KOOTENAI NATIONAL FOREST

Ross Creek Trail No. 4005
Location	17 miles South of Troy, MT 56
Trails	13 total km of Groomed trails,(11 km Easiest, 2 km Most Difficult) Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, 1437 N. US 2, Troy, MT 59935, (406) 295-4693
Other Info	Motor vehicles prohibited after December 1. Trail goes to Ross Creek Cedar Grove Scenic Area.
Bear Creek
Location	7 miles south of Libby
Trails	5.5 total km of Groomed trails, (2.3 km Easiest, 1.8 km More Difficult, 1.4 km Most Difficult) Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, 12557 MT Hwy 37, Libby, MT 59923 (406) 293-7773
Other Info	Motorized vehicles prohibited. Groomed by Kootenai Cross-Country Ski Club volunteers.
Rainbow Ridge
Location	22 miles north of Libby
Trails	2.4 total km of Groomed trails, (2.0 km Easiest) Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, 12557 MT Hwy 37, Libby, MT 59923, (406) 293-7773
Other Info	Trail shared with snowmobiles. Groomed by Kootenai Cross-Country Ski Club volunteers.
Flatiron Summit
Location	24 miles north of Libby
Trails	2.4 total km of Groomed trails, (2.4 km Most difficult) Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, 12557 MT Hwy 37, Libby, MT 59923, (406) 293-7773
Other Info	Motorized vehicles prohibited. Groomed by Kootenai Cross-Country Ski Club volunteers.
Timberlane Campground
Location	9 miles north of Libby
Trails	3.3 total km of Groomed trails, (2.5 km Easiest, 0.8 km More Difficult) Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, 12557 MT 37, Libby, MT 59923, (406) 293-7773
Other Info	Ski play hill and sledding, picnic shelter, fire ring and firewood provided. Groomed by Kootenai Cross-Country Ski Club volunteers.
South Flower
Location	4 miles southwest of Libby
Trails	8.4 total km of Groomed trails, (2.4 km Easiest, 5.5 km More Difficult, 0.5 km Most Difficult) Weekly grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, 12557 MT 37, Libby, MT 59923, (406) 293-7773
Other Info	Motorized vehicles prohibited. Groomed by Kootenai Cross-Country Ski Club volunteers.
Birch Creek
Location	16 miles SE of Eureka
Trails	6.6 total km of Groomed trails, (6 km Easiest, 0.6 km Most Difficult) Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, Fortine, (406) 882-4451
Other Info	Parking available at Birch Creek Recreation Area
Laughing Water Creek
Location	Adjacent to Murphy Lake Ranger Station
Trails	17 total km of Groomed trails, (17 km Easiest) Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger Station, Murphy Lake Ranger Station, US 93 North, Fortine (10 miles south of Eureka), MT 59918, (406) 882-4451
Other Information	Closed to snowmobiles. Opportunities for wildlife viewing.
Therriault
Location	10 miles southeast of Eureka
Trails	18 total km of Groomed trails, (16 km More Difficult, 2 km Most Difficult) Intermittent grooming
Contacts	District Ranger, Murphy Lake Ranger Station, US 93 north, Fortine, MT 59918, (406) 882-4451
Other Info	Parking available at junction of Forest Service Roads 756 and 7077.

FOREST INDEX

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LEWIS AND CLARK NATIONAL FOREST

Silver Crest
Location	30 miles north of White Sulphur Springs.
Trails	13.8 total km of Groomed trails,(6.9 km Easiest, 6.9 km More Difficult) Trails are groomed for skating. Weekly grooming
Contacts	Creek Information Station, Neihart, MT 59465, (406) 236-5511
Other Info	Park in King's Hill Winter Recreation Area parking lot. Three warming huts. Seven miles SE of Neihart. Tow-behind sleds prohibited.

FOREST INDEX

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LOLO NATIONAL FOREST

Pattee Canyon Complex
Location	5.5 miles southeast of Missoula
Trails	9 total km of Groomed trails,(1.6 km Easiest, 4 km More Difficult, 3.4 km Most Difficult) Trails are groomed for skating. Daily grooming
Contacts	Missoula Area Visitor Information, Bldg. 24-A, Fort Missoula, Missoula, MT 59801, (406) 329-3814
Other Info	Closed to motorized vehicles. Two trails. Dogs prohibited on groomed Trails. Groomed by Missoula Nordic Ski Club.
Seeley Lake Ski Trails
Location	1 mile northeast of Seeley Lake
Trails	18 total km of Groomed trails, (3 km Easiest, 12 km More Difficult, 3 km Most Difficult)Trails are groomed for skating. Intermittent grooming
Contacts	Ranger District, HC31, Box 3200, Seeley Lake, MT 59868, (406) 677-2233
Other Info	Snowmobiles and dogs prohibited on groomed trails. Maps available at trailhead and District Office. Groomed by Seeley Lake Ski Club.

FOREST INDEX

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Information provided by the following:

US Forest Service: Northern Region Federal Building PO Box 7669 Missoula, MT 59807 (406) 329-3511	Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest 420 Barrett Street Dillon, MT 59725-3572 (406) 683-3900	Bitterroot National Forest 1801 North First Street Hamilton, MT 59840 (406) 363-7100
Custer National Forest 1310 Main Street PO Box 50760 Billings, MT 59105 (406) 657-6200	Flathead National Forest 1935 Third Avenue East Kalispell, MT 59901 (406) 758-5204	Gallatin National Forest Federal Building 10 East Babcock PO Box 130 Bozeman, MT 59771 (406) 587-6701 (406) 522-2520
Helena National Forest 2880 Skyway Drive Helena, MT 59601 (406) 449-5201	Kootenai National Forest 1101 US Highway 2 West Libby, MT 59923 (406) 293-8861	Lewis & Clark National Forest 1101 15th Street North PO Box 869 Great Falls, MT 59403 (406) 791-7700
Lolo National Forest Building 24, Fort Missoula Missoula, MT 59801 (406) 329-3750

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