Montana’s Boulder Lakes Backcountry Access Secured

Hunters, anglers, hikers, and campers in Montana’s Tobacco Root Mountains will continue to enjoy the backcountry experiences they love thanks to swift action by The Conservation Fund.  

In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service, we’ve added nearly 600 acres to the Beaverhead-Deerlodge National Forest — land that provides important wildlife habitat and serves as the gateway to Lower and Upper Boulder Lakes, home to some of the region’s most exceptional high-elevation fishing. 

Until now, access to these lakes relied on an informal agreement with a private landowner. When the property came up for sale, the future of this beloved backcountry area was uncertain. We stepped in to ensure that access — along with the surrounding alpine habitat — would remain open and protected forever. 

Now secured, access to the lakes winds roughly four miles through alpine forest and granite basins, offering a moderate hike with sweeping mountain views. The high-elevation waters support native trout and offer reliable late-season hunting in the rugged Tobacco Root backcountry. 

With support from the Land and Water Conservation Fund, the land is now part of Montana’s public estate, preserving both recreation opportunities and critical ecosystems in one of the state’s most spectacular mountain regions. 

For everyone who treasures Montana’s wild backcountry, this is a win that will last for generations — securing access, protecting wildlife, and keeping the Boulder Lakes experience truly wild.