Get to Know Your Public Lands
Public Lands in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
More than 70 percent, roughly 17 million acres, of the lands in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem are public.
What are public lands?
Public lands belong to all American people and are held in trust by the government for everyone to enjoy, explore, and protect.
Why do public lands matter?
Public lands…
Protect wildlife species like bears, bison, elk, and more
Provide clean drinking water to millions
Pump billions of dollars into local economies
Offer wide-open spaces for hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and more
Support Indigenous cultural connection
Various types of federal public lands include National Parks, National Forests, Bureau of Land Management Land, National Wildlife Refuges, and Wilderness. Each type has a different mission and rules.
Let’s get to know our public lands!
National Parks
Key Facts
Managed by the National Park Service under the Department of the Interior.
Purpose is the preservation of natural and cultural resources for enjoyment and education.
Recreational opportunities vary by park, but in general hiking, camping, fishing, and wildlife-watching are popular.
Resource extraction is prohibited except in very rare cases of existing mining claims before park designation.
National Parks Mission
To preserve and protect the natural and cultural resources of the National Park System, ensuring they are available for the enjoyment, education, and inspiration of present and future generations.
National Parks in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Yellowstone National Park
Wyoming, Montana, Idaho — 2,221,766 acres
Fun Fact: The first national park established in the United States
Spots to Explore: Lamar Valley, Norris Geyser Basin, Yellowstone Lake, Hayden Valley, and Upper Geyser Basin
Grand Teton National Park
Wyoming — 310,000 acres
Fun Fact: Conservationists Olaus and Mardy Murie lived and worked in Grand Teton at the Murie Ranch, which is now a Historical National Landmark
Spots to Explore: Jenny Lake, Cascade Canyon, Snake River Overlook, Antelope Flats, and Schwabacher Landing
National Forests
Key Facts
Managed by United States Forest Service under the Department of Agriculture
Multi-purpose use including recreation, timber harvesting, grazing, and wildlife habitat
Recreation allowed includes camping, hiking, mountain biking, hunting, fishing, motorized use (limited), horseback riding, and more
Resource extraction (mining, logging) are allowed, but regulated
U.S. Forest Service Mission
To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of the nation’s forests and grasslands to meet the needs of present and future generations
National Forests in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Bridger-Teton National Forest
Wyoming — 3.4 million acres
Fun Fact: Home to the headwaters of the Yellowstone River
Shoshone National Forest
Wyoming — 2.4 million acres
Fun Fact: America’s first federally protected national forest
Custer Gallatin National Forest
Montana, Wyoming, South Dakota — 3.1 million acres
Fun Fact: Home to Granite Peak, the highest point in Montana at 12,807 feet
Caribou-Targhee National Forest
Idaho, Wyoming, Utah — 3+ million acres
Fun Fact: Contains one of the largest contiguous tracts of old-growth Douglas fir
Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest
Montana — 3.4 million acres
Fun Fact: Theodore Roosevelt named the two forests in 1908 — they were merged in 1996
Wilderness
Key Facts
Managed by U.S. Forest Service, Bureau of Land Management, U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and National Park Service
Purpose is to preserve land in its natural condition as defined by the Wilderness Act of 1964
No motorized recreation or biking but allows hiking and horseback riding. Also prohibits roads and permanent structures
Resource extraction is prohibited except in very rare cases of existing mining claims before Wilderness designation
What’s the Difference Between Wilderness and Wilderness Study Areas (WSA)?
Wilderness is permanently protected by the Wilderness Act of 1964. WSAs are under consideration for full Wilderness status, but have yet to be designated by Congress.
Wilderness in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness
Montana, Wyoming — 944,000 acres
Fun Fact: Home to 120+ peaks over 10,000 feet, including Montana’s highest mountain Granite Peak
Teton Wilderness
Wyoming — 585,000 acres
Fun Fact: Includes the “Parting of the Waters,” where Two Ocean Creek splits and flows into the Pacific and Atlantic oceans
Lee Metcalf Wilderness
Montana — 254,288 acres
Fun Fact: One of the first Wilderness areas designated specifically for grizzly bear habitat protection
Bridger Wilderness
Wyoming — 428,000 acres
Fun Fact: Home to Wyoming’s highest mountain, Gannett Peak at 13,809 feet
Bureau of Land Management (BLM)
Key Facts
Managed by the BLM under the Department of the Interior
Multi-purpose use including energy development, livestock grazing, recreation, and timber harvesting
Has fewer recreation restrictions than other public lands and allows motorized recreation in many areas
Resource extraction (mining, logging, drilling) is allowed through permits
BLM Mission
To sustain the health, diversity, and productivity of public lands for the use and enjoyment of present and future generations
BLM Land in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Clarks Fork Canyon
Wyoming — 2,883 acres
Fun Fact: The Clarks Fork of the Yellowstone is named after William Clark of the Lewis and Clark Expedition
Sand Creek Desert Wildlife Management Area (WMA)
Idaho — 12,500 acres
Fun Fact: Home to a critical winter habitat range for elk, mule deer, and moose
Dubois Badlands Wilderness Study Area (WSA)
Wyoming — 4,520 acres
Fun Fact: Showcases colorful striations of red, orange, and tan sedimentary rocks
Centennial Mountains Wilderness Study Area (WSA)
Montana — 27,691 acres
Fun Fact: About 60 miles of the Continental Divide Trail runs through this WSA
National Wildlife Refuge
Key Facts
Managed by the United States Fish and Wildlife Service under the Dept. of the Interior
Purpose is the conservation of fish, wildlife, and plants
Limited recreational opportunities to protect wildlife. Activities include wildlife watching and photography
Resource extraction may be allowed, but it must be compatible with conservation. It is rare and heavily regulated
National Wildlife Refuge Mission
To administer a national network of lands and waters for the conservation, management, and, where appropriate, restoration of the fish, wildlife, and plant resources and their habitats within the United States for the benefit of present and future generations of Americans.
National Wildlife Refuges in the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem
Red Rock Lakes National Wildlife Refuge
Montana — 53,000+ acres
Fun Fact: By 1932, only 70 trumpeter swans were known to still exist in the entire world. President Franklin D. Roosevelt designated the Red Rock Lakes NWR in 1935 to help protect the swans nesting in the area. By 2002, around 3,000 swans were wintering in and around the Red Rock Lakes NWR.
National Elk Refuge
Wyoming — 24,700+ acres
Fun Fact: Hosts the largest wintering elk herd in North America with up to 7,500 elk migrating to the refuge every year
Grays Lake National Wildlife Refuge
Idaho — 22,000 acres (wetland core)
Fun Fact: Hosts one of the largest breeding concentrations of sandhill cranes in North America
