Gallatin National Forest

FAQ's

Frequently Asked Questions

Some of the questions most often asked are listed below. Click on a question to jump directly to its answer.

In the event that this page can not completely answer your question(s) please contact us. The question(s) you submit will be answered as promplty and precisely as possible. This page may also be updated accordingly.

The Gallatin National Forest was established just over 100 years ago - in 1899. By proclamation, President McKinley set aside some 45,000 acres south of Bozeman, Montana which were then interspersed in square-mile sections with railroad grant lands.

Gallatin, the name given to the national forest as well as many other local features, originates from former Secretary of the Treasury Albert Gallatin. He was a Swiss immigrant and financial genius who was first elected to Congress in 1794, and later served as secretary of the treasury under Presidents Jefferson and Madison. Because Gallatin was instrumental in arranging financing for the Louisiana Purchase, Lewis and Clark named one of the rivers for him on their first visit to "the three forks" in 1805. Albert Gallatin also held the posts of U.S. Minister to France and U.S. Minister to England. Among other achievements, he founded New York University, organized the American Ethnology Society, and was once nominated for vice-president but withdrew in favor of another candidate. Gallatin died at Astoria, Long Island in 1849 at the age of 88.

Recreation, Wilderness, and other maps are available and may be purchased at any district office. Alternatively, use this form. Some sporting goods stores, outfitters, and map stores also sell these maps.

According to the Wilderness Act of 1964, wilderness areas are "where earth and its community of life remains untrammeled, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain". Wilderness Protection will never be gained simply by issuing a set of rules and regulations. It must come with love and understanding of the land. Wilderness Protection is a personal ethic. Some mark is left in Wilderness each time we visit, but each of us can make sure this mark is a small one. Minimum impact or no trace camping should be considered common sense behavior in the backcountry.

A prescribed fire is any fire intentionally ignited to meet specific land management objectives (i.e., to reduce flammable fuels, such as the accumulation of brush, logs, etc. on forest floors; or to help restore ecosystem health). Prescribed fires are preplanned ignitions, with predetermined boundaries. They are conducted only under certain weather conditions (i.e., during periods of low wind) when flame length and heat can be controlled. Land managers must obtain approval of prescribed fire plans from applicable federal or state agencies before conducting planned burns. In addition, all applicable requirements under the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) must be met on federal lands. Before federal land management activities (i.e., trail building, timber harvesting, use of fire, etc.) are conducted, NEPA requires that the environmental impacts of these activities be analyzed to assess their impacts on cultural resources, wetlands, soil, water quality, air quality, visibility, and other resources.

A special-use authorization is a legal document such as a permit, lease, or easement, which allows occupancy, use, rights, or privileges of National Forest system land. The authorization is granted for a specific use of the land for a specific period of time. The Forest Service and Bureau of Land Management maintain a web site on special use implementation at http://www.fs.fed.us/specialuses/.

The Forest Service no longer gives away free trees.
We recommend you check with your State Forester for more information/grants, etc.
Also, each state has a Forest Service Nursery that supplies "source-identified, locally-adapted" seedlings to private landowners. You can locate the nursery for your state on our National Nursery Directory.

The USDA Forest Service does not provide this service, but many State Foresters do. Contact your State Forester to see if they provide this service.

In many Wilderness Areas, devleoped campgrounds, picnic areas and day use areas, dogs are required to be on a leash. Most other areas within the National Forests do not require your dog to be on a leash, but they should be under your control at all times. We recommend that you keep your dog on a leash when you are around other forest users, other dogs, or are in bear country.

Dogs are NOT allowed to chase game animals.

In most areas of National Forest, you need to stay on roads and trails that are open to motorized travel. You may not take your ATV behind a closed gate, or travel OFF the road or trail (cross-country), unless the area is specifically designated for that use. Motorized vehicles are not allowed in any Wilderness Area. You should contact a local district office for more details and maps to help you learn where you may ride.

You must have a permit to remove any minerals or wood products from the National Forest. To obtain one of these permits, check with your nearest district office.

Golden Access passes are for blind and physically disabled visitors.
Golden Access passes must be obtained in person.
Golden Age passes are for visitors aged 62 and older.
Golden Age passes must be obtained in person.
Golden Eagle passes are for everyone else.

Specific details about each pass, the cost, and instructions on getting a pass are available in the passes and permits section of our web site.

The ideal camping time in most Forest areas is May to October, prior to winter storm activity. Reservation campgrounds are available, however the majority of Forest campgrounds are operated on a first-come, first-served basis. Please contact the individual Ranger District nearest your destination for more information.
Make reservations where available at recreation.gov.

This site includes information concerning cabins and lookouts on the Gallatin National Forest.
Use the reservation and/or contact information at the bottom of each cabin description page for further rental information.

For local appearances (Bozeman, MT or nearby communities), contact Marianne Baumberger at (406) 522-2549.

Some Forest Service jobs are listed in the USAJOBS database at http://www.usajobs.opm.gov To search ONLY for Forest Service jobs, start at http://jobsearch.usajobs.opm.gov/a9ag.asp and choose "Forest Service."
Also check the other links provided on the employment page.

If you sell a product or service, the best thing to do is get in the Federal Supply Service Program through the General Services Administration (GSA). The GSA is the business manager and purchasing agent for the federal government.

To bid on contracts throughout the federal government, start at FedBizOpps.
Gallatin forest contracts under $25,000 are listed on the East Side Acquisition Team (ESAT) site.

There are no rules or regulations within the Forest Service addressing this issue. However, some states (California) regulate or prohibit the scattering of ashes. It is important you check local and state regulations and laws pertaining to this activity.

The Forest Service "Plant-A-Tree" Program permits individuals and groups to donate money for the planting of trees on National Forests. The trees may be planted to memorialize loved ones or to commemorate special events such as births, weddings, or anniversaries.

For a suggested minimum donation of $10, which pays for 10-15 seedlings, donors receive a certificate acknowledging their gift. If desired, the name of the person in whose honor the donation is made will appear on the certificate. The trees, planted mostly in large plantations, will not be indivually identified by donor. Smaller (or larger) donations will be acceptable in most cases. Business groups may participate in the program as long as their participation is non-commercial.

Donations may be made in person and by mail at all Forest Service offices. Forest Service offices are listed in the telephone directory under "U.S. Government, Department of Agriculture." Contact information for all offices on the Gallatin National Forest are also available online


There are two other similar programs:

The American Forests group plants memorial trees in national forests in honor of loved ones. Find out more about the Memorial Trees campaign.

The Arbor Day Foundation plants Trees in Memory and Trees in Celebration.