Bears Paw Mountains

The Bears Paw Mountains are a small, isolated mountain range located in northcentral Montana. Situated between the Missouri River and the Hi-Line region, the range rises abruptly from the surrounding plains, reaching elevations over 6,000 feet. The terrain is rugged, with steep ridges, rocky peaks, and deeply incised canyons. Forests of ponderosa pine, Douglas fir, and quaking aspen cover the slopes, providing habitat for elk, deer, black bear, and other wildlife. The mountains were an important hunting and gathering area for Native American tribes for centuries before the arrival of European settlers.