Gallatin National Forest: Difference between revisions

Gallatin National Forest
Gallatin National Forest
Location	Montana, United States
Nearest city	Bozeman, MT
Coordinates	45°16′21″N 110°22′06″W / 45.27250°N 110.36833°W
Area	1,819,515 acres (7,363.32 km2)
Established	February 10, 1899
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service
Website	Custer-Gallatin National Forest

Browse history interactively

← Previous edit Next edit →

Content deleted Content added

VisualWikitext

Inline

Revision as of 18:50, 1 March 2022

Founded in 1899, Gallatin National Forest is located in south central Montana, United States. The forest comprises 1,819,515 acres (7,363.32 km²) and has portions of both the Absaroka-Beartooth and Lee Metcalf Wilderness areas within its boundaries. Gallatin National Forest borders Yellowstone National Park on the north and northwest and is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, a region which encompasses almost 20,000,000 acres (81,000 km²). The forest is named after Albert Gallatin (1761–1849), a U.S. Secretary of the Treasury and scholar of Native American languages and cultures.

In descending order of land area the forest is located in parts of Park, Gallatin, Sweet Grass, Madison, Carbon, and Meagher counties.

Administration

Since 2014, the Gallatin and Custer National Forests are managed together as the Custer–Gallatin National Forest with headquarters in Bozeman, Montana.^[3] There are local ranger district offices located in West Yellowstone, Livingston, Bozeman, and Gardiner in Montana for Gallatin, and Ashland and Red Lodge in Montana, and Camp Crook in South Dakota for Custer.

Features

Sign marking entry to Gallatin National Forest along Beartooth Highway (U.S. Route 212), July 2002

There are six separate mountain ranges within the forest including the Gallatin, Madison, Bridger, Crazy, Absaroka, and Beartooth Ranges. The Beartooth's are home to Granite Peak, which at 12,799 ft (3,901 m), is the highest point both in the forest, and in Montana. Quake Lake on the Madison River is the site of the 1959 earthquake and landslide which formed the lake. A separate section of the forest north of Livingston, Montana is located in the Crazy Mountains which rise over 7,000 ft (2,100 m) above the Great Plains to the east. The forest includes two wilderness areas, the Absaroka–Beartooth (943,626 acres (3,818.72 km²)) and the Lee Metcalf (254,288 acres (1,029.07 km²)).

While the lower elevations are often covered in grasses and sagebrush, higher altitudes support Douglas fir, with several species of spruce, cottonwood and aspen being the dominant tree species. Of the 4,000 mi (6,400 km) of streams and rivers there are major tributaries of the Yellowstone River, which bisects the western and eastern sections of the forest running through Paradise Valley. Major tributaries of the Missouri River, the Gallatin and Madison Rivers, also are found in the forest. The habitat supports over 300 wildlife species, including the grizzly bear, bald eagle, and peregrine falcon. Many western North American species are represented in this climax ecosystem including elk, mule deer, bison, moose, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, cougar, gray wolf and black bear.

Fish within the numerous rivers and other bodies of water include white sucker, longnose sucker, mountain sucker, longnose dace, western mosquitofish, mottled sculpin, and gamefish such as Yellowstone cutthroat trout, mountain whitefish, and the introduced rainbow trout, brown trout, and brook trout.^[4] Various subspecies of trout are plentiful in the streams and they contribute to the forest being one of the preeminent fly fishing regions in the United States. The population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in and near Gallatin National Forest have been at risk of hybridization with rainbow trout.^[5]

Over 2,290 mi (3,690 km) of hiking trails are located in the forest providing access into wilderness areas and interlinking with trails in Yellowstone National Park. There are almost 40 vehicle accessible campgrounds scattered throughout the forest, numerous picnic areas and even cabins that can be rented for a nominal fee through the forest's district offices. West Yellowstone, Montana provides access both into the forest and to Yellowstone National Park and is a popular snowmobile center during the winter. Nighttime temperatures can be below freezing any time of the year and mosquitoes in the late spring and early summer are abundant. Summertime high temperatures average in the 70s Fahrenheit (21–26 °C) and the wintertime lows can drop below −40 degrees. Most of the precipitation falls in the form of snow with some places averaging over 33 ft (10 m) annually.

Access the forest off Interstate 90 south on U.S. Highway 89 from Livingston, Montana to Gardiner, Montana or south on U.S. 191 from Bozeman, Montana to West Yellowstone. The forest headquarters is located in Bozeman.

Gallery

Daisy Pass near Cooke City, Montana
A view of Gallatin National Forest in 1921
A photograph taken of the Forest in 1962
Yellowstone National Park, seen from Gallatin
The remains of a building damaged by the 1959 Yellowstone earthquake

References

^ "Land Areas of the National Forest System" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. January 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
^ "The National Forests of the United States" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2012.
^ Laura Lundquist (November 14, 2014). "Custer and Gallatin forests finalize merger". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 6 June 2016.
^ Holton, George D. (2003). A field guide to Montana fishes. Howard E. Johnson, Wildlife, and Parks Montana. Department of Fish (3rd ed.). Helena, Mont.: Produced by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. ISBN 1-56044-479-7. OCLC 34618216.
^ Endicott, Carol (June 3, 2015). "Lower Deer Creek Fish Barrier & Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Conservation" (PDF). westernnativetrout.org. Retrieved 1 March 2022.

External links

[1] "Land Areas of the National Forest System" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. January 2012. Retrieved June 25, 2012.

[2] "The National Forests of the United States" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. Archived from the original (PDF) on February 12, 2013. Retrieved June 25, 2012.

[3] Laura Lundquist (November 14, 2014). "Custer and Gallatin forests finalize merger". Bozeman Daily Chronicle. Retrieved 6 June 2016.

[4] Holton, George D. (2003). A field guide to Montana fishes. Howard E. Johnson, Wildlife, and Parks Montana. Department of Fish (3rd ed.). Helena, Mont.: Produced by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks. ISBN 1-56044-479-7. OCLC 34618216.

[5] Endicott, Carol (June 3, 2015). "Lower Deer Creek Fish Barrier & Yellowstone Cutthroat Trout Conservation" (PDF). westernnativetrout.org. Retrieved 1 March 2022.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

@@ Line 28: / Line 28: @@
 ==Features==
 [[File:BeartoothSign.jpg|thumb|left|Sign marking entry to Gallatin National Forest along [[Beartooth Highway]] ([[U.S. Route 212 in Montana|U.S. Route 212]]), July 2002]]
-There are six separate [[mountain]] ranges within the forest including the [[Gallatin Range|Gallatin]], [[Madison Range|Madison]], [[Bridger Mountains (Montana)|Bridger]], [[Crazy Mountains|Crazy]], [[Absaroka Range|Absaroka]], and [[Beartooth Range|Beartooth]] Ranges. The Beartooth's are home to [[Granite Peak (Montana)|Granite Peak]], which at {{convert|12799|ft|m|abbr=on}}, is the highest point both in the forest, and in Montana. [[Quake Lake]] on the Madison River is the site of the [[1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake|1959 earthquake and landslide]] which formed the lake. A separate section of the forest north of Livingston, Montana is located in the Crazy Mountains which rise over {{convert|7000|ft|m|abbr=on}} above the [[great plains]] to the east. The forest includes two wilderness areas, the [[Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness|Absaroka–Beartooth]] ({{convert|943626|acres|km2|abbr=on}}) and the [[Lee Metcalf Wilderness|Lee Metcalf]] ({{convert|254288|acres|km2|abbr=on}}).
+There are six separate [[mountain]] ranges within the forest including the [[Gallatin Range|Gallatin]], [[Madison Range|Madison]], [[Bridger Mountains (Montana)|Bridger]], [[Crazy Mountains|Crazy]], [[Absaroka Range|Absaroka]], and [[Beartooth Range|Beartooth]] Ranges. The Beartooth's are home to [[Granite Peak (Montana)|Granite Peak]], which at {{convert|12799|ft|m|abbr=on}}, is the highest point both in the forest, and in Montana. [[Quake Lake]] on the Madison River is the site of the [[1959 Hebgen Lake earthquake|1959 earthquake and landslide]] which formed the lake. A separate section of the forest north of Livingston, Montana is located in the Crazy Mountains which rise over {{convert|7000|ft|m|abbr=on}} above the [[great plains|Great Plains]] to the east. The forest includes two wilderness areas, the [[Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness|Absaroka–Beartooth]] ({{convert|943626|acres|km2|abbr=on}}) and the [[Lee Metcalf Wilderness|Lee Metcalf]] ({{convert|254288|acres|km2|abbr=on}}).
-While the lower elevations are often covered in grasses and [[sagebrush]], higher altitudes support [[Douglas fir]], with several species of [[spruce]], [[Populus sect. Aegiros|cottonwood]] and [[aspen]] being the dominant tree species. Of the {{convert|4000|mi|km|abbr=on}} of [[stream]]s and [[river]]s there are major tributaries of the [[Yellowstone River]], which bisects the western and eastern sections of the forest running through [[Paradise Valley (Montana)|Paradise Valley]]. Major tributaries of the [[Missouri River]], the [[Gallatin River|Gallatin]] and [[Madison River]]s, also are found in the forest. The habitat supports over 300 wildlife species, including the [[grizzly bear]], [[bald eagle]], and [[peregrine falcon]]. Many western [[North America]]n species are represented in this climax ecosystem including [[Rocky Mountain elk|elk]], [[mule deer]], [[Plains bison|bison]], [[moose]], [[bighorn sheep]], [[pronghorn]], [[North American cougar|cougar]], [[gray wolf]] and [[cinnamon bear|black bear]]. Various subspecies of [[trout]] are plentiful in the streams and they contribute to the forest being one of the preeminent [[fly fishing]] regions in the United States.
+While the lower elevations are often covered in grasses and [[sagebrush]], higher altitudes support [[Douglas fir]], with several species of [[spruce]], [[Populus sect. Aegiros|cottonwood]] and [[aspen]] being the dominant tree species. Of the {{convert|4000|mi|km|abbr=on}} of [[stream]]s and [[river]]s there are major tributaries of the [[Yellowstone River]], which bisects the western and eastern sections of the forest running through [[Paradise Valley (Montana)|Paradise Valley]]. Major tributaries of the [[Missouri River]], the [[Gallatin River|Gallatin]] and [[Madison River]]s, also are found in the forest. The habitat supports over 300 wildlife species, including the [[grizzly bear]], [[bald eagle]], and [[peregrine falcon]]. Many western [[North America]]n species are represented in this climax ecosystem including [[Rocky Mountain elk|elk]], [[mule deer]], [[Plains bison|bison]], [[moose]], [[bighorn sheep]], [[pronghorn]], [[North American cougar|cougar]], [[gray wolf]] and [[cinnamon bear|black bear]].
+Fish within the numerous rivers and other bodies of water include [[white sucker]], [[longnose sucker]], [[mountain sucker]], [[longnose dace]], [[western mosquitofish]], [[mottled sculpin]], and gamefish such as [[Yellowstone cutthroat trout]], [[mountain whitefish]], and the introduced [[rainbow trout]], [[brown trout]], and [[brook trout]].<ref>{{Cite book |last=Holton |first=George D. |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/34618216 |title=A field guide to Montana fishes |date=2003 |publisher=Produced by Montana Fish, Wildlife & Parks |others=Howard E. Johnson, Wildlife, and Parks Montana. Department of Fish |isbn=1-56044-479-7 |edition=3rd |location=Helena, Mont. |oclc=34618216}}</ref> Various subspecies of [[trout]] are plentiful in the streams and they contribute to the forest being one of the preeminent [[fly fishing]] regions in the United States. The population of Yellowstone cutthroat trout in and near Gallatin National Forest have been at risk of hybridization with rainbow trout.<ref>{{Cite web |last=Endicott |first=Carol |date=June 3, 2015 |title=Lower  Deer  Creek  Fish  Barrier  & Yellowstone  Cutthroat  Trout  Conservation |url=https://westernnativetrout.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/07/lower-deer-creek-fish-barrier-wnti-final-report.pdf |access-date=1 March 2022 |website=westernnativetrout.org}}</ref>
 Over {{convert|2290|mi|km|abbr=on}} of [[hiking]] [[trail]]s are located in the forest providing access into wilderness areas and interlinking with trails in [[Yellowstone National Park]]. There are almost 40 [[vehicle]] accessible [[campground]]s scattered throughout the forest, numerous picnic areas and even cabins that can be rented for a nominal fee through the forest's district offices. [[West Yellowstone, Montana]] provides access both into the forest and to Yellowstone National Park and is a popular [[snowmobile]] center during the winter. Nighttime temperatures can be below [[freezing]] any time of the year and [[mosquito|mosquitoe]]s in the late spring and early summer are abundant. Summertime high temperatures average in the 70s Fahrenheit (21–26&nbsp;°C) and the wintertime lows can drop below &minus;40 degrees. Most of the [[Precipitation (meteorology)|precipitation]] falls in the form of snow with some places averaging over {{convert|33|ft|m|abbr=on}} annually.

v t e National forests of the United States
List of national forests of the United States
Allegheny Angeles Angelina Apache–Sitgreaves Apalachicola Arapaho Ashley Beaverhead–Deerlodge Bienville Bighorn Bitterroot Black Hills Boise Bridger–Teton Caribou–Targhee Carson Chattahoochee–Oconee Chequamegon–Nicolet Cherokee Chippewa Choctawhatchee Chugach Cibola Clearwater Cleveland Coconino Coeur d'Alene Colville Conecuh Coronado Croatan Custer Daniel Boone Davy Crockett De Soto Delta Deschutes Dixie El Yunque Eldorado Finger Lakes Fishlake Flathead Francis Marion Fremont–Winema Gallatin George Washington and Jefferson Gifford Pinchot Gila Grand Mesa Green Mountain Gunnison Helena Hiawatha Holly Springs Homochitto Hoosier Humboldt–Toiyabe Huron–Manistee Idaho Panhandle Inyo Kaibab Kaniksu Kisatchie Klamath Kootenai Lake Tahoe Basin Lassen Lewis and Clark Lincoln Lolo Los Padres Malheur Manti–La Sal Mark Twain Medicine Bow–Routt Mendocino Modoc Monongahela Mount Baker–Snoqualmie Mount Hood Nantahala Nebraska Nez Perce Ocala Ochoco Okanogan–Wenatchee Olympic Osceola Ottawa Ouachita Ozark–St. Francis Payette Pike Pisgah Plumas Prescott Rio Grande Rogue River–Siskiyou Roosevelt Sabine Salmon–Challis Sam Houston Samuel R. McKelvie San Bernardino San Isabel San Juan Santa Fe Sawtooth Sequoia Shasta–Trinity Shawnee Shoshone Sierra Siuslaw Six Rivers St. Joe Stanislaus Sumter Superior Tahoe Talladega Tombigbee Tongass Tonto Tuskegee Uinta Umatilla Umpqua Uncompahgre Uwharrie Wallowa–Whitman Wasatch–Cache Wayne Wenatchee White Mountain White River Willamette William B. Bankhead
List of former national forests of the United States

Authority control databases
International	VIAF WorldCat
National	Germany United States 2 Israel
Other	NARA