Madison, Gallatin, Jefferson and Broadwater Counties make up this district. Lee Metcalf Wilderness, 76,000 acre Spanish Peaks district is within Custer Gallatin National Forest offering thousands of acres of public lands. The Madison Range separates the Madison River Valley from Gallatin River. Bozeman, a thriving college and regional center is east of the Gallatin River. Only residents can apply for a limited antlered bull license.

Largest Shiras Bull came from Madison County scored 190 Boone and Crockett points. Gallatin County has a 179” B&C bull in the record books. Watch for wolves and grizzly bears in this area. Watch for snow storms later in the fall as they can make backcountry travel difficult if not impossible.

Madison River Valley out of Ennis Lake runs through a broad valley before entering Bear Trap Canyon. The Gallatin flows through a deep canyon from Big Sky to just south of Gallatin Gateway. Gallatin Peak reaches over 11,000 feet with a number of 10,000 foot neighbors creating a dynamic alpine landscape. Spanish Peak drainage North and South Forks that start out near timberline and tumble through steep rocky canyons before flowing into the Gallatin. North of the Madison Range the land becomes rolling with thousand acres of rangeland.

Alpine tundra arrayed with acres of wildflowers during the summer months. Moss, lichens with barren ground willows surround small snowmelt filled lakes. Mountain slopes are densely covered with fir, spruce, ponderosa and lodgepole pine. South facing parks have mountain shrubs, short grasses and groves of aspen. Below the mountain peaks the mountains yield to broad valleys with stands of cottonwoods and willows along the Madison River. The Gallatin River is lined with pines and spruce until it opens up into a broad valley near Gallatin Gateway.

Gallatin National Forest along with the Lee Metcalf, Spanish Peaks Wilderness has a number of trailheads off the Gallatin River along U.S. Highway 191. U.S. Highway 287 offers access from the west to Forest Service roads leading into the Lee Metcalf Wilderness. Once in the national forest or the wilderness miles of maintained trails lead deep into the backcountry. Be prepared with chains on your four-wheel drive with any forecast of snow.

Custer Gallatin National Forest including Lee Metcalf Wilderness allows camping dispersed area for up to 16 days. Outside of National Forest Bozeman is a regional center with a large choice of lodging, café and restaurants, a large medical facility, regional airport, 24/7 gas and diesel along Interstate 90. Three Forks, Ennis and Manhattan offer a smaller choice of motels, bed/breakfast and river view lodges, cafés, gas and diesel.