A Century of Stewardship: Montana's State Forests at 100
1925 – 2025
Betts School, Cascade County, Montana in the early 1900's (left), the Swan River State Forest (middle) and a log deck on a timber sale in the Thompson River State Forest (right).
For 100 years, Montana’s state forests have stood as a testament to careful stewardship and enduring public benefit. When the State Legislature established seven state forests in 1925, their vision was to protect watersheds and promote sustainable forest management.
Today, the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) continues that legacy by managing Montana’s forested state trust lands to support education and public institutions—generating an average of $10.5 million each year for schools and communities across the state.
Explore the stories and history behind each of Montana’s state forests through the online story map below.
Centennial State Forests Story Map
How Montana’s Trust Lands Began
When Montana became a state in 1889, Congress granted certain lands to Montana to support public education and other institutions. Specifically, sections 16 and 36 in every township were designated for Common Schools (K-12). In cases where these sections were already homesteaded, located within Indian reservations, or otherwise unavailable, the state selected alternative lands to fulfill these grants. Additional acreage was also provided for universities and other state institutions, with each parcel assigned to a specific trust.
A Legacy of Working Lands
Today, the Trust Lands Management Bureaus manage approximately 5.2 million surface acres and 6.2 million subsurface acres. The mineral estate often exceeds surface acreage because Montana retained mineral rights even when land was sold. While many of these lands are open for public recreation, they are primarily working lands—leased for activities like agriculture, grazing, and mineral development to generate revenue for the state’s trust beneficiaries. All management decisions balance revenue production with environmental stewardship and the long-term productivity of the land.
Who Benefits from Montana’s Trust Lands?
The revenue generated from Montana’s trust lands supports a variety of public institutions and services, including:
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Common Schools (K-12)
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The University of Montana
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Montana State University (Morrill Grant and Second Grant)
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Montana Tech of the University of Montana
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MSU Eastern/UM Western
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Capitol Buildings
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Veterans Home
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School for the Deaf & Blind
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State Reform School (Pine Hills)
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Intensive Behavior Center
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Montana State Hospital
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Public Land Trust—Navigable Rivers
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Acquired Lands Trust
Montana’s trust lands are managed to benefit these institutions today and for generations to come.