Park earthquake history

Review documented earthquake data for the diverse mountain ranges and landscapes of central Montana.

Historical Catalogue of Recorded Seismic Events Associated with Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

This collection presents a catalogue of recorded earthquakes associated by epicentre proximity to the expansive terrain of Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. Users can review individual event details, including magnitude, depth, and relative distance from this protected region of the Northern Rockies. The information serves as an archival resource for understanding the historical seismic context of the surrounding Montana landscape.

Explore Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

A digital illustration of a mountainous landscape with a tall waterfall cascading into a river, surrounded by evergreen trees, with stylized cliffs and a setting sun in the background.

A vast Montana national forest named for the exploration route that shaped the American West.

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest is a large federally managed forest system in west-central Montana, covering roughly 2.8 million acres across thirteen counties. It straddles a dramatic transition from the eastern Great Plains foothills to the crest of the Northern Rockies, and is named for the 1804 to 1806 Lewis and Clark Expedition that crossed the region on its way to the Pacific. The forest is administered as two distinct divisions: the drier Jefferson Division to the east, shaped by grasslands, shrublands, cattle ranching and timber production, and the wetter Rocky Mountain Division to the west, dominated by dense coniferous forest and large wilderness areas along the Continental Divide. Together, these lands hold eight mountain ranges, two designated wilderness complexes, notable trout fisheries, and one of the oldest protected forest landscapes in the United States. Beyond its ecological role, the forest carries deep cultural weight. It overlaps with ancestral lands of the Blackfeet, Sioux, Cheyenne, Flathead, and Crow nations, and its history is marked by 19th century treaties, the 1897 establishment of the original reserve, and present-day efforts to protect culturally sacred landscapes such as the Badger-Two Medicine area.

Location: United States of America
Park type: Protected landscape
Established: 1897
Area: 11,000 km²
Highest point: 2,900 m

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Atlas

Compare Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest event records

Explore earthquakes near Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

The Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest catalogue maps reported epicentres by calculated distance from its Montana boundary, without assigning seismic meaning to the Rocky Mountain Front, plains, forests, or Continental Divide. Dates, magnitudes, depths, localities, sources, and forest distances support historical comparison without implying landscape effects, current hazard, or future activity.

Magnitude

Location

This page describes catalogued earthquakes associated with the park by epicentre location and distance. It does not establish causation, assess current danger, or predict future earthquakes.

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Park atlas

Open another atlas profile after an 11,000 km² mountain, forest, lake and river landscape

Continue past Helena-Lewis and Clark earthquake records

Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest’s earthquake catalogue leads to an independent protected destination; its 11,000 km² source landscape includes mountains, valleys, cliffs, forests, grassland, wetlands, lakes, rivers and waterfalls. None of those facts is inherited by the next page, and the link does not imply closeness, comparable designation, seismic evidence, current hazard or risk.

Watercolor painting of a light-colored landscape featuring a river meandering through green trees and soft hills against a hazy background.

Wildlife reserveMontana

Park boundaries overlap#1 closest

Southwest

Gates of the Mountains Wilderness: Montana Protected Landscape and Geographic Overview

Explore Missouri River canyon boundaries and local terrain

Gain insight into the geological drama of Gates of the Mountains Wilderness, a protected reserve in Montana. This atlas entry focuses on the limestone canyon walls and historic river corridors that define the regional geography, offering a structured look at its protected boundaries and terrain.

Area: 115.59 km²
Established: 1964
IUCN: Ib
Relief: Mountain

Gates of the Mountains Wilderness Map and Geography

National parkMontana

Park boundaries overlap#2 closest

Northwest

Glacier National Park: A Montana National Park with Distinct Protected Landscape Geography

Explore its mapped boundaries and regional natural terrain.

Glacier National Park represents a significant national park entity within Montana, providing a unique lens for understanding protected landscapes and regional geography. As a key component of the US protected areas network, it offers valuable insights into mapped park boundaries and the surrounding natural terrain. This page serves as a gateway to exploring the specific geographic context and landscape identity of Glacier National Park.

Area: 4,100.77 km²
Established: 1910
IUCN: II
Visitors: 2.9M annual

Glacier National Park Protected Area Atlas

Protected areaMontana

Park boundaries overlap#3 closest

West

Lolo National Forest: An Atlas of Protected Lands and Mountainous Terrain in Montana

Ecological transition zone of the northern Rocky Mountains

This protected area covers two million acres of diverse northern Rocky Mountain geography. Known for its massive western red cedars and transitional ecology, the forest features a complex network of ridgelines, glacial lake basins, and river corridors that serve as vital habitat across the Montana landscape.

Area: 8,894.85 km²
Established: 1906
Relief: Mountain
Climate: Temperate

Explore Lolo National Forest Protected Areas

Wildlife reserveMontana

50 km away#4 closest

West

Mission Mountains Wilderness: A Rugged Protected Area in the Montana Rocky Mountains

Glacial topography and high elevation alpine ecosystems

Mission Mountains Wilderness is a defining landmark in northwestern Montana, characterized by a steep and narrow mountain spine that rises abruptly above the Flathead Valley. The area protects a full spectrum of ecosystems, from dense coniferous forests to exposed talus slopes and alpine tundra. With its glacially carved cirques and deep U shaped valleys, this wilderness functions as a key component of a larger, jointly managed regional conservation landscape in the United States.

Area: 298.97 km²
Established: 1975
IUCN: Ib
Relief: Mountain

Mission Mountains Wilderness Geography

Wildlife reserveMontana

64 km away#5 closest

West

Rattlesnake Wilderness: Exploring the Protected Landscapes and Geography of Montana

Rugged alpine terrain and roadless mountain wilderness in the Northern Rockies.

Located in the Lolo National Forest of western Montana, Rattlesnake Wilderness protects an essential network of forested slopes, alpine ridges, and drainage headwaters. This roadless wildlife reserve provides an ecologically intact landscape that serves as a core component of the northern Rockies wilderness system, offering a clear view into the rugged relief of the Rattlesnake Mountains and their significant influence on local watersheds.

Area: 133.45 km²
Established: 1980
IUCN: Ib
Relief: Mountain

Explore Rattlesnake Wilderness Protected Areas

Wildlife reserveMontana

66 km away#6 closest

South

Lee Metcalf Wilderness: Geographic Profile and Protected Landscape Boundaries in Montana

Mapping rugged alpine terrain across four distinct mountainous units

Located in southwestern Montana, the Lee Metcalf Wilderness serves as a cornerstone of ecological connectivity within the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem. Spanning over 250,000 acres, this protected area features a unique fragmented geography consisting of the Bear Trap Canyon, Spanish Peaks, Taylor-Hilgard, and Monument Mountains units. The landscape is defined by its roadless mountain ridges, forested slopes, and deep river corridors, providing essential sanctuary for large mammal populations.

Area: 1,029.07 km²
Established: 1983
IUCN: Ib
Relief: Mountain

Explore Lee Metcalf Wilderness Protected Area Map

National parkAlberta

72 km away#7 closest

Northwest

Waterton Lakes National Park: Alberta's Protected Landscape and Geographic Atlas

Explore mapped boundaries and regional terrain context.

Waterton Lakes National Park represents a vital protected area situated within the province of Alberta. This atlas view focuses on its mapped boundaries and the characteristic natural terrain, providing essential geographic context for understanding its significance. Discover its role as a national park and its placement within the regional geography of Western Canada, ideal for users seeking structured data on protected lands and landscape features.

Area: 505 km²
Established: 1895
IUCN: II
Visitors: 475.8K annual

Waterton Lakes National Park Atlas

A watercolor painting of a serene landscape with coniferous trees, rolling hills, and soft-toned, layered mountains.

Protected landscapeMontana

About 76 km away#8 closest

West

Rattlesnake National Recreation Area: Geography and Protected Landscape Analysis

A mapped Northern Rockies gateway in western Montana

The recreation area encompasses 28,000 acres of forested mountain terrain, montane wetlands, and creek-carved valleys located just north of Missoula. This protected landscape is defined by its diverse trail network and significant ecological systems, including the rare Sphagnum bogs of Shoo Fly Meadows. The area provides essential habitat for grizzly bears, elk, and bull trout while framing a transition zone into the remote backcountry of the surrounding national forest.

Area: 110 km²
Established: 1980
Relief: Mountain
Scope: Terrestrial

Rattlesnake National Recreation Area Geography

MoriAtlas Explorer

Explore the Mapped Landscapes of Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest

Discover the rugged terrain and protected boundaries of Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest. This MoriAtlas entry provides a detailed look at the forest's transition from the Montana plains to the high Continental Divide, mapping out the diverse mountain ranges and wilderness areas that define this significant regional landscape.

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Helena-Lewis and Clark National Forest Atlas

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