Maps: Southeast Region

Bridging the gap from the high Rockies to the vast northern plains, some of the most rugged landscapes in Montana lie in the southeastern corner of the state. From rolling prairies to sheer limestone canyons, red desert to alpine forests, sacred rock art to dinosaur fossils, southeastern Montana is home to a stunning array of wildlands. The region contains millions of acres of public lands, including Custer National Forest, Bureau of Land Management holdings, and the Bighorn Canyon National Recreation Area.

Custer National Forest is the most ecologically diverse forest in the Northern Region, reaching from the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness near Red Lodge to the grasslands of South Dakota.

Located 45 miles southeast of Billings, the Pryor Mountains are a series of limestone uplifts that define the northern rim of the Bighorn Basin. Never glaciated and rather dry, this mountain range contains more Native American cultural and archeological sites than any site in the five-state Forest Service region. Lost Water Canyon is proposed for Wilderness, and adjacent BLM lands contain four Wilderness Study Areas as well as the Pryor Mountain Wild Horse Range.

The two long, parallel ridges that make up the Pryors rise more than 5,000 feet in less than 20 miles and are deeply fractured by numerous limestone canyons. The plunging canyons contain numerous caves and sinkholes. Wildlife includes mule deer, bighorn sheep, bobcats, golden eagles, black bear, mountain lions, and ten species of bats. The area is home to more than 200 species of birds, including the peregrine falcon. The range provides numerous opportunities for hiking, caving, horseback riding, cross-country skiing and birding, as well as deer and small game hunting.

Further east, Custer National Forest includes mountains and prairies near Ashland that offer a varied topography, from rolling grasslands to steep rock outcrops. Vegetation varies from short-grass prairie to dense stands of ponderosa pine. There are three non-motorized Hiking and Riding Areas on the District that total about 40,000 acres, and these areas offer hunting, solitude, and excellent opportunities for nature study. Motorized travel is not permitted and the boundaries are posted.

You can get involved in this region by contacting our Eastern Wildlands Chapter (Billings) or joining us on a Wilderness Walk.

The Custer National Forest (National Forests) is found in the region.