Custer National Forest
Encyclopedia
Custer National Forest is located primarily in the southern part of the U.S. state
of Montana
but also has separate sections in northwestern South Dakota
. With a total area of 1,278,279 acres (5,173.03 km2), the forest comprises over 10 separate sections. While in the westernmost sections, Custer National Forest is a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
, the easternmost sections are a combination of forest "islands" and grasslands. A portion of the forest is also part of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
and constitutes over a third of the wilderness land. South of Red Lodge, Montana
, the Beartooth Highway
(U.S. 212) passes through the forest in route to Yellowstone National Park
.
The eastern areas are dominated by large stands of ponderosa pine
surrounded by grasslands, which are often leased to local ranchers for cattle grazing. A relatively rare type of small falcon
known as the merlin
is found here in greater concentrations than anywhere else in the U.S. Mule deer
, antelope
and elk
are also found. There are few rivers and lakes and much of the eastern sections emphasize land conservation
and work closely with logging
and ranching interests.
, spruce
and fir
trees due to the increased altitude and more abundant rainfall. The grizzly bear
, black bear
, bighorn sheep
, mountain goat
, and bison
are all found in the western sections though they are not as abundant as in Yellowstone National Park to the south. Higher altitudes deep into the wilderness areas are above timberline and alpine
conditions prevail. The tallest mountain in Montana, Granite Peak
, is shared with Gallatin National Forest
, as is the interesting Grasshopper Glacier
, which has millions of grasshoppers that died approximately 300 years ago, entombed within the ice.
Within the forest are Native American
burial grounds, pictographs and petroglyphs. For the plains Indians
, the forest provided shelter and a stable food supply. Members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
are generally considered to be the first white Americans to visit the region. The Forest is currently divided into three Ranger Districts: Beartooth in Red Lodge, Montana
; Ashland in Ashland, Montana
; and Sioux in Camp Crook, South Dakota
. Four National Grasslands were formerly managed by the forest as the Grand River
, Cedar River
, Little Missouri
and Sheyenne National Grasslands. These units are now managed as the Dakota Prairie Grasslands, headquartered in Bismarck, ND.
There are over 30 vehicle accessible campgrounds in the forest, as well as numerous picnic areas. Over 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of hiking
trails are available with most being found in the western district. Though not plentiful with rivers and lakes, the waterways do provide some opportunities for fishing but little for boating. The forest headquarters is located in Billings, Montana
, and most hiking and camping is done in the region south and southwest of Billings. There are local ranger
district offices in Ashland
and Red Lodge
in Montana, and in Camp Crook
in South Dakota.
In descending order of land area the forest is located in parts of Powder River
, Carbon
, Stillwater
, Rosebud
, Carter
, Sweet Grass
, Harding
(the only county in South Dakota), and Park
counties. Only about 6.2% of the acreage lies in South Dakota.
on March 2, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the name was changed to Custer. On January 13, 1920 the entire Sioux National Forest
was added, which now comprises the Sioux Ranger District of Custer, extending into South Dakota. Sioux had previously absorbed Cave Hills
, Ekalaka
, Long Pine
, Short Pine
and Slim Buttes
National Forest
s on July 1, 1908. On February 17, 1932 Custer absorbed a portion of Beartooth National Forest
, which now comprises the Beartooth District.
U.S. state
A U.S. state is any one of the 50 federated states of the United States of America that share sovereignty with the federal government. Because of this shared sovereignty, an American is a citizen both of the federal entity and of his or her state of domicile. Four states use the official title of...
of Montana
Montana
Montana is a state in the Western United States. The western third of Montana contains numerous mountain ranges. Smaller, "island ranges" are found in the central third of the state, for a total of 77 named ranges of the Rocky Mountains. This geographical fact is reflected in the state's name,...
but also has separate sections in northwestern South Dakota
South Dakota
South Dakota is a state located in the Midwestern region of the United States. It is named after the Lakota and Dakota Sioux American Indian tribes. Once a part of Dakota Territory, South Dakota became a state on November 2, 1889. The state has an area of and an estimated population of just over...
. With a total area of 1,278,279 acres (5,173.03 km2), the forest comprises over 10 separate sections. While in the westernmost sections, Custer National Forest is a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
The Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem is one of the last remaining large, nearly intact ecosystems in the northern temperate zone of the Earth and is partly located in Yellowstone National Park. Conflict over management has been controversial, and the area is a flagship site among conservation groups...
, the easternmost sections are a combination of forest "islands" and grasslands. A portion of the forest is also part of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness was created from existing National Forest lands in 1975 and is located in Montana and Wyoming, United States. The wilderness is partly in Gallatin, Custer and Shoshone National Forests and is composed of . The wilderness encompasses two distinct mountain ranges, namely...
and constitutes over a third of the wilderness land. South of Red Lodge, Montana
Red Lodge, Montana
Red Lodge is a city in and the county seat of Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
, the Beartooth Highway
Beartooth Highway
The Beartooth Highway is an All-American Road that has been called "the most beautiful drive in America," by late CBS correspondent Charles Kuralt...
(U.S. 212) passes through the forest in route to Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park
Yellowstone National Park, established by the U.S. Congress and signed into law by President Ulysses S. Grant on March 1, 1872, is a national park located primarily in the U.S. state of Wyoming, although it also extends into Montana and Idaho...
.
Ponderosa Pine
Pinus ponderosa, commonly known as the Ponderosa Pine, Bull Pine, Blackjack Pine, or Western Yellow Pine, is a widespread and variable pine native to western North America. It was first described by David Douglas in 1826, from eastern Washington near present-day Spokane...
surrounded by grasslands, which are often leased to local ranchers for cattle grazing. A relatively rare type of small falcon
Falcon
A falcon is any species of raptor in the genus Falco. The genus contains 37 species, widely distributed throughout Europe, Asia, and North America....
known as the merlin
Merlin (bird)
The Merlin is a small species of falcon from the Northern Hemisphere. A bird of prey once known colloquially as a pigeon hawk in North America, the Merlin breeds in the northern Holarctic; some migrate to subtropical and northern tropical regions in winter.-European and North American...
is found here in greater concentrations than anywhere else in the U.S. Mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
, antelope
Pronghorn
The pronghorn is a species of artiodactyl mammal endemic to interior western and central North America. Though not an antelope, it is often known colloquially in North America as the prong buck, pronghorn antelope, or simply antelope, as it closely resembles the true antelopes of the Old World and...
and elk
Elk
The Elk is the large deer, also called Cervus canadensis or wapiti, of North America and eastern Asia.Elk may also refer to:Other antlered mammals:...
are also found. There are few rivers and lakes and much of the eastern sections emphasize land conservation
Conservation biology
Conservation biology is the scientific study of the nature and status of Earth's biodiversity with the aim of protecting species, their habitats, and ecosystems from excessive rates of extinction...
and work closely with logging
Forestry
Forestry is the interdisciplinary profession embracing the science, art, and craft of creating, managing, using, and conserving forests and associated resources in a sustainable manner to meet desired goals, needs, and values for human benefit. Forestry is practiced in plantations and natural stands...
and ranching interests.
Overview
The western sections have a mixture of pinePine
Pines are trees in the genus Pinus ,in the family Pinaceae. They make up the monotypic subfamily Pinoideae. There are about 115 species of pine, although different authorities accept between 105 and 125 species.-Etymology:...
, spruce
Spruce
A spruce is a tree of the genus Picea , a genus of about 35 species of coniferous evergreen trees in the Family Pinaceae, found in the northern temperate and boreal regions of the earth. Spruces are large trees, from tall when mature, and can be distinguished by their whorled branches and conical...
and fir
Fir
Firs are a genus of 48–55 species of evergreen conifers in the family Pinaceae. They are found through much of North and Central America, Europe, Asia, and North Africa, occurring in mountains over most of the range...
trees due to the increased altitude and more abundant rainfall. The grizzly bear
Brown Bear
The brown bear is a large bear distributed across much of northern Eurasia and North America. It can weigh from and its largest subspecies, the Kodiak Bear, rivals the polar bear as the largest member of the bear family and as the largest land-based predator.There are several recognized...
, black bear
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
, bighorn sheep
Bighorn Sheep
The bighorn sheep is a species of sheep in North America named for its large horns. These horns can weigh up to , while the sheep themselves weigh up to . Recent genetic testing indicates that there are three distinct subspecies of Ovis canadensis, one of which is endangered: Ovis canadensis sierrae...
, mountain goat
Mountain goat
The Mountain Goat , also known as the Rocky Mountain Goat, is a large-hoofed mammal found only in North America. Despite its vernacular name, it is not a member of Capra, the genus of true goats...
, and bison
American Bison
The American bison , also commonly known as the American buffalo, is a North American species of bison that once roamed the grasslands of North America in massive herds...
are all found in the western sections though they are not as abundant as in Yellowstone National Park to the south. Higher altitudes deep into the wilderness areas are above timberline and alpine
Alpine climate
Alpine climate is the average weather for a region above the tree line. This climate is also referred to as mountain climate or highland climate....
conditions prevail. The tallest mountain in Montana, Granite Peak
Granite Peak (Montana)
Granite Peak, at an elevation of above sea level, is the highest natural point in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the tenth highest state high point in the nation. It lies within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, in Park County very near the borders of Stillwater County and Carbon County...
, is shared with Gallatin National Forest
Gallatin National Forest
Founded in 1899, Gallatin National Forest is located in south central Montana, United States. The forest comprises 2.1 million acres and has portions of both the Absaroka-Beartooth and Lee Metcalf Wilderness areas within its boundaries...
, as is the interesting Grasshopper Glacier
Grasshopper Glacier (Montana)
Grasshopper Glacier is a glacier located in the Beartooth Mountains, Custer National Forest, Montana, U.S.. The glacier is within the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, a part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. The glacier is approximately long and wide...
, which has millions of grasshoppers that died approximately 300 years ago, entombed within the ice.
Within the forest are Native American
Native Americans in the United States
Native Americans in the United States are the indigenous peoples in North America within the boundaries of the present-day continental United States, parts of Alaska, and the island state of Hawaii. They are composed of numerous, distinct tribes, states, and ethnic groups, many of which survive as...
burial grounds, pictographs and petroglyphs. For the plains Indians
Plains Indians
The Plains Indians are the Indigenous peoples who live on the plains and rolling hills of the Great Plains of North America. Their colorful equestrian culture and resistance to White domination have made the Plains Indians an archetype in literature and art for American Indians everywhere.Plains...
, the forest provided shelter and a stable food supply. Members of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Lewis and Clark Expedition
The Lewis and Clark Expedition, or ″Corps of Discovery Expedition" was the first transcontinental expedition to the Pacific Coast by the United States. Commissioned by President Thomas Jefferson and led by two Virginia-born veterans of Indian wars in the Ohio Valley, Meriwether Lewis and William...
are generally considered to be the first white Americans to visit the region. The Forest is currently divided into three Ranger Districts: Beartooth in Red Lodge, Montana
Red Lodge, Montana
Red Lodge is a city in and the county seat of Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
; Ashland in Ashland, Montana
Ashland, Montana
Ashland is a census-designated place in Rosebud County, Montana, United States. The population was 464 at the 2000 census. Ashland is immediately east of the boundary of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and the location of the St...
; and Sioux in Camp Crook, South Dakota
Camp Crook, South Dakota
Camp Crook is an incorporated small town in Harding County, South Dakota, United States, on the Little Missouri River. Originally named Wickhamville, after one of the original founding families, the town was renamed in April 1883 when the Cheyennes assumed a threatening attitude and their agent...
. Four National Grasslands were formerly managed by the forest as the Grand River
Grand River National Grassland
Grand River National Grassland is a National Grassland in northwestern South Dakota, USA. It is named for the Grand River. The North and South forks of the rivers meet in the grassland. It has a land area of 154,783 acres . In descending order of acreage it lies in parts of Perkins, Corson, and...
, Cedar River
Cedar River National Grassland
Cedar River National Grassland is a National Grassland located in Sioux County and Grant County in southern North Dakota, United States. It has a land area of 6,717 acres . The portion in Sioux County lies within the Standing Rock Indian Reservation. Within the grassland are topographic features...
, Little Missouri
Little Missouri National Grassland
Little Missouri National Grassland is a National Grassland located in western North Dakota, USA. At 1,033,271 acres , it is the largest grassland in the country. Enclaved within its borders is Theodore Roosevelt National Park, which is managed by the National Park Service...
and Sheyenne National Grasslands. These units are now managed as the Dakota Prairie Grasslands, headquartered in Bismarck, ND.
There are over 30 vehicle accessible campgrounds in the forest, as well as numerous picnic areas. Over 1,500 miles (2,400 km) of hiking
Hiking
Hiking is an outdoor activity which consists of walking in natural environments, often in mountainous or other scenic terrain. People often hike on hiking trails. It is such a popular activity that there are numerous hiking organizations worldwide. The health benefits of different types of hiking...
trails are available with most being found in the western district. Though not plentiful with rivers and lakes, the waterways do provide some opportunities for fishing but little for boating. The forest headquarters is located in Billings, Montana
Billings, Montana
Billings is the largest city in the U.S. state of Montana, and is the principal city of the Billings Metropolitan Area, the largest metropolitan area in over...
, and most hiking and camping is done in the region south and southwest of Billings. There are local ranger
National Park Ranger
National Park Service Rangers are among the uniformed employees charged with protecting and preserving areas set aside in the National Park System by the United States Congress and/or the President of the United States...
district offices in Ashland
Ashland, Montana
Ashland is a census-designated place in Rosebud County, Montana, United States. The population was 464 at the 2000 census. Ashland is immediately east of the boundary of the Northern Cheyenne Indian Reservation and the location of the St...
and Red Lodge
Red Lodge, Montana
Red Lodge is a city in and the county seat of Carbon County, Montana, United States. It is part of the Billings, Montana Metropolitan Statistical Area...
in Montana, and in Camp Crook
Camp Crook, South Dakota
Camp Crook is an incorporated small town in Harding County, South Dakota, United States, on the Little Missouri River. Originally named Wickhamville, after one of the original founding families, the town was renamed in April 1883 when the Cheyennes assumed a threatening attitude and their agent...
in South Dakota.
In descending order of land area the forest is located in parts of Powder River
Powder River County, Montana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,858 people, 737 households, and 524 families residing in the county. The population density was -Demographics:...
, Carbon
Carbon County, Montana
-National protected areas:* Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area * Custer National Forest * Gallatin National Forest -Economy:During the early history of Carbon County, coal mining was the predominant industry...
, Stillwater
Stillwater County, Montana
-National protected areas:*Custer National Forest *Hailstone National Wildlife Refuge*Halfbreed Lake National Wildlife Refuge-Demographics:...
, Rosebud
Rosebud County, Montana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 9,383 people, 3,307 households, and 2,417 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile . There were 3,912 housing units at an average density of 1 per square mile...
, Carter
Carter County, Montana
-Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 1,360 people, 543 households, and 382 families residing in the county. The population density was -Demographics:...
, Sweet Grass
Sweet Grass County, Montana
-National protected areas:*Custer National Forest *Gallatin National Forest *Lewis and Clark National Forest -Demographics:As of the census of 2000, there were 3,609 people, 1,476 households, and 987 families residing in the county. The population density was 2 people per square mile...
, Harding
Harding County, South Dakota
As of the census of 2000, there were 1,353 people, 525 households, and 352 families residing in the county. The population density was 0.5 people per square mile . There were 804 housing units at an average density of 0.3 per square mile...
(the only county in South Dakota), and Park
Park County, Montana
Park Counties in Montana and Wyoming are among the very few pairs of counties in the United States with the same name to border each other across state lines.-National protected areas:* Custer National Forest * Gallatin National Forest...
counties. Only about 6.2% of the acreage lies in South Dakota.
History
Custer National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service as Otter National ForestOtter National Forest
Otter National Forest was established by the U.S. Forest Service in Montana on March 2, 1907 with . On July 1, 1908 the name was changed to Custer National Forest....
on March 2, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the name was changed to Custer. On January 13, 1920 the entire Sioux National Forest
Sioux National Forest
Sioux National Forest was established in Montana and South Dakota on July 1, 1908 with from the consolidation of Cave Hills, Ekalaka, Long Pine, Short Pine and Slim Buttes National Forests...
was added, which now comprises the Sioux Ranger District of Custer, extending into South Dakota. Sioux had previously absorbed Cave Hills
Cave Hills National Forest
Cave Hills National Forest was established as the Cave Hills Forest Reserve in South Dakota by the General Land Office March 5, 1904 with . After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905, it became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 it was absorbed by...
, Ekalaka
Ekalaka National Forest
Ekalaka National Forest was established as the Ekalaka Forest Reserve in Montana on November 5, 1906 with . It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907...
, Long Pine
Long Pine National Forest
Long Pine National Forest was established as the Long Pine Forest Reserve in Montana on September 24, 1906 with . It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907...
, Short Pine
Short Pine National Forest
Short Pine National Forest was established as the Short Pine Forest Reserve in South Dakota on July 22, 1905 with . It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 it was absorbed by Sioux National Forest and the name was discontinued...
and Slim Buttes
Slim Buttes National Forest
Slim Buttes National Forest was established by the General Land Office as Slim Buttes Forest Reserve in South Dakota on March 5, 1904 with . After the transfer of federal forests to the U.S. Forest Service in 1905, it became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 it was absorbed by...
National Forest
United States National Forest
National Forest is a classification of federal lands in the United States.National Forests are largely forest and woodland areas owned by the federal government and managed by the United States Forest Service, part of the United States Department of Agriculture. Land management of these areas...
s on July 1, 1908. On February 17, 1932 Custer absorbed a portion of Beartooth National Forest
Beartooth National Forest
Beartooth National Forest was established in Montana on July 1, 1908 by the U.S. Forest Service with from part of Yellowstone National Forest and all of Pryor Mountains National Forest...
, which now comprises the Beartooth District.