About Us
Photo above: Grand Vista turnout on the Pioneer Mountains Scenic
Byway. Saddleback Mountain and Comet Mountain in the background.
Welcome to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
History
Straddling the Continental Divide and covering much of southwest
Montana, the 3.3 million acre Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
came into existence on February 2, 1996, when the Forest Service
merged the Beaverhead and the Deerlodge National Forests into
one administrative unit.
President Theodore Roosevelt first proclaimed the Beaverhead
and Deerlodge National Forests in two separate executive orders
on July 1, 1908, pulling together lands which earlier presidents
had withdrawn as the Hell Gate, Bitter Root, and Big Hole forest
reserves between 1897 and 1905. In 1931, the Madison National
Forest became part of the Beaverhead and Deerlodge National Forests.
In 1945, the west slope of the Madison Range was transferred from
the Gallatin National Forest to the Beaverhead National Forest.
The name "Beaver's Head" first appeared in Lewis and Clark's
journals in 1805. That year the two captains of the Corps of Discovery
passed by the prominent rock shaped like swimming beaver during
their trek to the Pacific.
Photo above: The Beaverhead Rock northeast of Dillon.
Sacajawea identified the rock as the spot where they would meet
her people. Later, the river flowing past the rock was named after
it. The Beaverhead River is a major tributary of the Jefferson
fork of the Missouri. Beaverhead Rock is located 14 miles northeast
of Dillon along Highway 41.
The name "Deer Lodge" comes from the Deer Lodge Mound, a 40-foot-high
geothermal formation at the site of present-day Warm Springs State
Hospital. The mound's shape, with steam issuing from the top,
resembled a large medicine lodge, and minerals in the water attracted
large numbers of deer, so Indians in the area referred to the
then-prominent landmark as the Deer Lodge. The formation was a
major landmark for trappers and early travelers in the area who
referred to the valley as the Deer Lodge Plain. The mound was
described in detail in the journals of Father DeSmet, Granville
Stuart, and others. It is still visible from I-90, though now
obscured somewhat by trees and buildings.
Maps
Detailed,
Forestwide Map (pdf)
What is the Forest Service?
The Forest Service is a federal agency, established in the
U.S. Department of Agriculture in 1905
(link opens a new window), that manages public land in the National
Forests and Grasslands. The Forest Service is also the largest
forestry research organization in the world, and provides technical
and financial assistance to state forestry agencies.
Congress established the National Forest system at the turn
of the century, to provide quality water and timber for the
nation's benefit. Over the years, the public has expanded what
they want from National Forests. Congress responded by directing
the Forest Service to manage National Forests for additional
multiple uses and benefits, including outdoor recreation, wildlife
and fish habitat, minerals, archaeologic and historic resources,
and wilderness.
National Forests are America's Great Outdoors. They encompass
191 million acres of land, which is an area equivalent to the
size of Texas. National Forests provide opportunities for recreation
in open spaces and natural environments. With more and more
people living in urban areas, National Forests are becoming
more important and valuable to Americans. People enjoy a wide
variety of activities on National Forests, from backpacking
in remote, unroaded wilderness, to mastering an ATV over a challenging
trail, to enjoying the views along a scenic byway, or fishing
a great trout stream.
The job of Forest Service managers is to help all these people
share the forest in ways most beneficial over the long run for
people and the environment. Some activities are compatible,
some are not . You, as a concerned citizen play a key role.
By expressing your views to Forest Service managers, you will
help them balance all of these uses to make decisions in the
best interest of the forest and the people.
This homepage is here to help you make that first contact with
the Forest Service. It describes how the agency is organized,
where offices are located, and who is the best person for you
to contact. It describes some programs specifically designed
to enable people such as yourself to directly manage you National
Forests.
Who Should I Talk To?
The best place to start if you have a question or want to
get involved is at the Ranger District. Most of the day-to-day
decisions and short-term planning occur at this level. The
Forest Service is a decentralized agency, which means much
of the decision-making authority is delegated to District
Rangers. District Rangers and their staff, are the ones who
can put your suggestions to use or respond to a complaint.
If you have talked to your District Ranger and can't work
out a problem in good faith, your next contact should be with
the Forest Supervisor. The Forest Supervisor is also the person
to talk with about Forest plans, or about situations that
involve several Ranger Districts.
Contacting a Regional Forester or the Chief is generally
only effective if you have exhausted all means to resolve
differences locally. Most decisions about actions on the land
occur below these two levels, so your ideas and suggestions
are best expressed to a District Ranger or Forest Supervisor.
How To Be Effective In Working With The Forest
Service
People have the right to express their opinions to the
Forest Service. There are some things you can do to express
your opinions more effectively during planning.
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Join a club or organize a club to promote
your favorite recreation area.
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Within the club, develop a common vision
or goal for what you want to happen on the National Forest
or Ranger District.
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Share your vision with the land manager.
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Be reasonable, courteous, and cooperative
when dealing with the land manager AND with other members
of the public, even when their goals differ from yours.
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Volunteer your club's time to help the land
manager. Many clubs do trail maintenance, trail construction,
and spend time educating other recreationalists about responsible
behavior. Undertaking a project not directly connected with
your sport, such as litter clean-up along a road, can gain
your club a lot of good press and good will in the community.
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Remember the National Forests are managed
for a wide variety of resources and uses, as well as protection
of the environment.
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The land manager must balance your desires
with the needs of other people.
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