Flathead National Forest
| Flathead National Forest | |
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IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
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The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex makes up a large fraction of the Flathead National Forest.
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| Location | Montana, USA |
| Nearest city | Kalispell, MT |
| Coordinates | 48°02′N 113°48′W / 48.033°N 113.800°WCoordinates: 48°02′N 113°48′W / 48.033°N 113.800°W |
| Area | 2,404,935 acres (9,732.43 km2) |
| Established | February 22, 1897 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
| Website | Flathead National Forest |
The Flathead National Forest is a national forest in the western part of the U.S. state of Montana. The forest covers 2,404,935 acres (3,758 sq mi; 9,732 km2) of which about 1 million acres (4,000 km2) is designated wilderness. It is named after the Flathead Native Americans who lived in the area. The forest is located in the Rocky Mountains with elevations ranging from 4,500 to 8,500 feet (1,400 to 2,600 m). The forest provides habitat for approximately 250 species of wildlife and 22 species of fish. This includes the threatened grizzly bear, Canadian lynx, bull trout and a rare plant named water howellia.
The Flathead National Forest is bordered by Glacier National Park and Canada to the north, the Lewis and Clark National Forest and Glacier to the east, the Lolo National Forest to the south, and the Kootenai National Forest to the west. The wilderness areas in the forest are the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area, Great Bear Wilderness Area, and Mission Mountains Wilderness Area. Other specially-designated areas in the forest include Flathead Wild and Scenic River, Jewel Basin Hiking Area, and the Coram Experimental Forest. Some 270,000 acres (1,100 km2) of non-federal land are also included in the boundaries drawn for the national forest. This includes private land, commercial forest and part or all of Swan River State Forest, Stillwater State Forest and Coal Creek State Forest.
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