Looking to the southeast through the mouth of the Paradise Valley
toward the Absaroka Mountains of the Gallatin National Forest near
Livingston. © Ralph Maughan
The Gallatin National Forest embraces over 2.1 million acres of public land to the immediate north and northwest of Yellowstone National Park. Most of it is in the Greater Yellowstone ecosystem (GYE). Most of the Gallatin is biologically an intregal part of the Yellowstone country.
Three major mountain ranges are in the Gallatin NF as part of the GYE -- the Madison, the Gallatin, and the Absaroka. The later is not to be confused with the Absaroka Range in Wyoming which lies mostly on the Shoshone National Forest. To the north of the GYE on the Gallatin NF, rise the Crazy Mountains and also the Bridger Range near Bozeman.
Looking to the southeast through the mouth of the Paradise Valley
toward the Absaroka Mountains of the Gallatin National Forest near
Livingston. © Ralph Maughan
Over 40% of this magnificent national forest is designated wilderness, home to the grizzly bear and other wild creatures. Wild wolves are also returning to the area to help restore the balance of nature as a result of the wolf introductions.
Unfortunately, the Gallatin National Forest has done some heavy logging in areas not protected by wilderness. Its most recent controversy is the Hyalite timber sale, a big logging proposal in the City of Bozeman's municipal watershed, but there has been plenty of road building and logging in the past. In some ways the Gallatin is similar to the overcut Targhee National Forest to its south. The Roads Scholar Project gives some information on the overroading of parts of the Gallatin.
I
Photo of Hyalite Basin in the Gallatin mountain range of the
Gallatin
National Forest. This is in a roadless area, but not one protected
by the
Wilderness Act. © Ralph Maughan
The Absaroka Range on the Gallatin N.F. from the east.
Photo taken near Springdale, Montana (not on the national forest).
© Ralph Maughan
A telephoto view of the Crazy Mountains (part
of the Gallatin National Forest) from near
Springdale, Montana. June 1997.
© Ralph Maughan
You can contact the Gallatin National Forest Supervisor's Office at:
P.O. Box 130
Federal Building
Bozeman, MT 59771
406-587-6701
Revised last on 10-10-98