Gallatin National Forest
A view of a hint of Gallatin National Forest
Gallatin National Forest is comprised of 2.1 million acres spanning 6 mountain ranges and includes parts of 2 designated National Wilderness Areas: the Lee Metcalf and the Absaroka-Beartooth in the Greater Yellowstone Area.
Gallatin National Forest was established in 1899 as part of the largest intact ecosystem in the 48 contiguous states. These snow-capped mountain peaks and blue-ribbon trout streams are just part of the whole, because this is also prime habitat for gray wolf, bald eagle, Canada lynx, grizzly bear, mule deer, white-tailed deer, moose, elk, mountain lion, black bear, pronghorn, bighorn sheep, bison, coyote and wolverine.
As usual in a western National Forest, a significant portion of the property is covered with native grasses and sagebrush. Higher elevations support populations of Douglas fir, aspen, cottonwood and several species of spruce. The Gallatin National Forest has more than 4,000 miles of streams and rivers, making this area one of the preeminent fly-fishing regions in the world. Among those flowing waters are several major tributaries of the Missouri and Yellowstone Rivers. The forest also contains more than 700 high mountain lakes and reservoirs.
There are also more than 2,290 miles of trails in the Gallatin National Forest. Many of these trails provide access to the wilderness areas and interlink with trails in Yellowstone National Park. Gallatin offers nearly 40 developed campgrounds, plus numerous picnic areas and rentable Forest Service cabins.
Aerial view of the 1959 landslide that created Quake Lake
Quake Lake on the Madison River was formed by an earthquake and landslide in 1959. The earthquake killed 28 people and the landslide created a lake 6 miles long and 190 feet deep. Measuring 7.3 on the Richter scale, that earthquake dropped the bottom of Hebgen Lake some 20' while it raised fault scarps 20' high near the lake. Another 32,000 acres of land near Hebgen Lake subsided at least 10'. Most of the people who died were camping along the shores at Hebgen Lake and they died when the waters of the lake shifted violently. Aftershocks registering up to 6.5 went on for months afterward. The dam itself was washed over by the heaving waters and developed some serious cracks. The Army Corps of Engineers mobilized quickly and patched the dam before there were any problems. Then they acted to create a spillway for Quake Lake before the rapidly rising waters could blow out that natural dam and cause more problems downstream.
Fairy Lake
The view at Half Moon Trailhead
Photo of the landslide at Quake Lake courtesy of the USGS
Other photos courtesy of the US Forest Service
Campgrounds & Picnic Areas
TYhe following list has not been updated to account for any damage that may have occurred over the last several years due to wildfires.
Aspen Campground
Baker's Hole Campground
Battle Ridge Campground
Battle Ridge Picnic Area
Bear Creek Campground
Beaver Creek Campground
Big Beaver Campground
Big Timber Picnic Area
Blackmore Picnic Area
Cabin Creek Campground
Canyon Campground
Cherry Creek Campground
Chief Joseph Campground
Chippy Park Campground
Chisholm Campground
Cinnabar Picnic Area
Clarks Fork Picnic Area
Colter Campground
Eagle Creek Campground
East Boulder Campground
Fairy Lake Campground
Falls Creek Campground
Greek Creek Campground
Halfmoon Campground
Halfmoon Picnic Area
Hell's Canyon Campground
Hick's Park Campground
Hood Creek Campground
Hood Creek Group Campground / Picnic Area
La Duke Picnic Area
Langohr Campground
Langohr Group Picnic Area
Lonesomehurst Campground
Moose Creek Flat Campground
Moose Creek Flat Picnic Area
Moose Creek Group Site
Natural Bridge Falls Picnic Area
Palisade Falls Picnic Area
Pine Creek Campground
Pine Creek Group Campground
Pine Creek Picnic Area
Quake Lake Picnic Area
Rainbow Point Campground
Rainbow Point Picnic Area
Red Cliff Campground
Red Cliff Group Campground
Red Cliff Picnic Area
Shields River Dispersed Site
Shipping Corrals Picnic Area
Snowbank Campground
Snowbank Group Campground
Soda Butte Campground
Spanish Creek Picnic Area
Sphinx Creek Picnic Area
Spire Rock Campground
Spire Rock Group Campground
Spring Creek Campground
Spruce Creek Picnic Area
Swan Creek Campground
Timber Camp Campground
Tom Miner Campground
West Boulder Campground
Yankee Jim Picnic Area