With its snow-covered mountain peaks and internationally known "blue ribbon" trout streams, the Gallatin National Forest is a popular recreation area in Montana’s Northern Rockies. Located in south-central Montana and established in 1899, the Gallatin is part of the Greater Yellowstone Area, the largest intact ecosystem in the continental United States. This 1.8-million-acre Forest spans six mountain ranges and includes two Congressionally-designated Wilderness areas, the Absaroka-Beartooth and Lee Metcalf Wildernesses. The Forest provides habitat for a full complement of native animals including four federally listed threatened species-–the grizzly bear, gray wolf, bald eagle, and the Canada lynx. The principal rivers are the Yellowstone River, Gallatin River, Madison River and Boulder River. There are 26 campgrounds the Forest.