and parts of the Elkhorn Mountains; it straddles the Continental Divide in the Boulder and Highland Mountains. A number of ghost towns serve as reminders of the extensive mining history of the region. The Deerlodge portion of the forest, located northwest of the Beaverhead portion, lies in sections of Granite, Jefferson, Silver Bow, Deer Lodge, Powell, and Madison counties. There are local ranger district offices located in Butte, Philipsburg, and Whitehall. Ponderosa pine, and various species of fir, spruce and juniper are the dominant tree species. Almost a third of the forest lands have no forest at all, and are instead rangeland with sagebrush, grass and the occasional cactus. The forest is also home to grizzly bear, cougar, Canadian lynx, bald eagle, bull trout, Arctic grayling, and gray wolf, the latter being a migrant from northern Montana and the Yellowstone wolf reintroduction program in Wyoming. Elk, mule deer, moose, bighorn sheep, pronghorn, coyote, and black bear are more commonly seen. The highest mountains in the forest top out at over . The Continental Divide National Scenic Trail and the Nez Perce National Historical Trail both pass through sections of the forest. In total, there are over of hiking trails, 50 campgrounds, dozens of lake and river boating access points and even of groomed snowmobile trails. Forest Service offices administering the National Forest are in Butte, Dillon (which is the headquarters location), Philipsburg, Deer Lodge, Whitehall, Boulder, Ennis, Sheridan, Wise River, Wisdom, and Lima. Interstate 15 and Interstate 90, Montana Highway 43 and Montana Highway 278, and the Pioneer Mountains Scenic Byway all provide access to forest service roads, trailheads and local communities near the forest. See also Big Hole River Butte, Montana List of forests in Montana References Pat Munday 2001. Montana's Last Best River: The Big Hole River and its People (Lyons Press). External links "1922 Inn in Deer Lodge Nat. Park, Nine Miles From Butte, Mont." Popular Mechanics, Oct 1922, p. 586. National Forests of Montana National Forests of the Rocky Mountains Protected areas of Beaverhead County, Montana Protected areas of Madison County, Montana Protected areas of Deer Lodge County, Montana Protected areas of Silver Bow County, Montana Protected areas of Granite County, Montana Protected areas of Jefferson County, Montana Protected areas of Powell County, Montana 1908 establishments in Montana Protected areas established in 1908