East Crazy Inspiration Divide Final Decision
Authorizing next steps for Securing Permanent and Identifiable Access on the East Side of the Crazy Mountains
The Custer Gallatin National Forest has released the Final Decision for the East Crazy Inspiration Divide Project. The land exchange includes lands located in the Crazy Mountain Range northeast of Livingston and northwest of Big Timber, and near the Inspiration Divide Trail in Big Sky, MT.
East Crazy Inspiration Divide Overview Map
The Crazy Mountain’s checkerboard ownership pattern of private and public lands has contributed to over a century of management situations and access issues.
The Final Decision
The exchange includes approximately 3,855 acres of National Forest System lands for 6,110 acres of private lands, owned by six private landowners.
The exchange helps resolve complicated and long-standing access and management issues on the east side of the Crazy Mountain Range in southcentral Montana.
Creates large areas of contiguous and clearly identifiable National Forest System lands in the Crazy Mountains to facilitate efficient land and resource management.
Increases Federal ownership to protect sensitive areas within the Crazy Mountains Backcountry Area (BCA), Crazy Mountain Inventoried Roadless (IRA) and South Crazy Recommended Wilderness (RWA) to preserve and enhance the quiet, undeveloped, unroaded characteristics and associated social and ecological benefits including public recreational opportunities, conservation of biodiversity and improved habitat connectivity.
Conserves the existing character of the Crazy Mountains by reducing the potential for development on 10 sections of private lands interior to and comingled with National Forest System lands.
Increases protection of high elevation lands in the Crazy Mountain Range, an important cultural area identified by the Crow Tribe.
Redesigns and improves the Big Timber Canyon Trailhead in consideration of parking associated with the improved public recreation opportunity provided by Sweet Trunk Trail No. 274.
Constructs the Sweet Trunk Trail No. 274 to provide access located on the consolidated National Forest System lands.
Secures Smeller Lake and Trail No. 220 to provide for quality recreational opportunity including fishing, hiking, hunting, camping, scenic viewing, and Yellowstone cutthroat trout habitat.
East Side Crazy Mountains Final Decision - By the Parcels
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1
Parcel A (Private to Federal)
2
Parcel B (Private to Federal)
3
Parcel C (Private to Federal)
4
Parcel D (Private to Federal)
The northern portion of Parcel D would remain in private ownership and a trail easement would be granted.
5
Parcel E (Private to Federal)
6
Parcel F (Private to Federal)
7
Parcel G (Private to Federal)
8
Parcel H (Private to Federal)
9
Parcel I (Private to Federal)
10
Parcel K (Private to Federal)
As part of the cash equalization strategy, proponents will donate the Smeller Lake parcel (valued at over $1 million) in addition to funding trail, trailhead construction, and improvements.
11
Parcel 1 (Federal to Private)
12
Parcel 2 (Federal to Private)
13
Parcel 3 (Federal to Private)
14
Parcel 4 (Federal to Private)
15
Parcel 5 (Federal to Private)
16
Parcel 6 (Federal to Private)
17
Parcel 7 (Federal to Private)
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1
East Side Crazy Mountain Exchange - Key components and Changes from the Draft Decision to the Final Decision
2
Wetlands
The Decision retains approximately 200 acres of National Forest System lands with 50 acres of wetlands. Access to Sweet Grass Creek is preserved and the Forest Service retains the water right for surface water of Sweet Grass Creek within the 200 acres.
3
Parcel D
Lands conveyed in Parcel D (Private to Federal) are reduced and the landowner retains the northern half of the section (320 acres). The landowner will donate an easement for the new trail location that crosses through the property. This change was needed to provide for wetlands and access to Sweet Grass Creek in Parcel 2.
4
Preservation of Character and Limited Development
The Final Decision includes perpetual protections to help retain the character of lands leaving Federal ownership through restrictive covenants on subdivision of four parcels in the Sweet Grass Drainage. The restrictions state that no subdivisions on properties under 160 acres will occur and mineral development and exploration will be prohibited. It also includes restrictions on commercial development.
5
Parcel K Smeller Lake
As part of the cash equalization strategy, proponents will donate the Smeller Lake parcel (valued at over $1 million) in addition to funding trail, trailhead construction, and improvements.
6
Right of First Refusal (10 years)
- Sweet Grass area landowners (Parcels 1-4) have no plans to sell acquired lands but agreed to grant a third-party conservation partner the right of first refusal for 10 years if a sale is necessary.
After 10 years, landowners will notify the agency of any intent to sell for an additional 5 years.
When the swipe tool is moved to the right, current ownership is shown with multiple national forest and private owned parcels in a checkerboard pattern. When the swipe tool is moved to the left, the checkerboard pattern of land is largely gone, with National Forest System lands consolidated into one contiguous block.
Inspiration Divide Draft Decision - By the Parcels
01 / 06
1
Parcel J (Private to Federal)
2
Parcel J (Private to Federal)
3
Parcel J (Private to Federal)
4
Parcel 8 (Federal to Private)
5
Parcel 9 (Federal to Private)
6
Parcel 10 (Federal to Private)
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Inspiration Divide Exchange - Key Components and Changes from the Draft to Final Decisions
The Final Decision provides for more efficient management of the Inspiration Divide Trail No. 8 and recreation opportunities such as hunting, camping, and wildlife viewing once the trail is entirely located on National Forest System lands.
The Final Decision shifts the southern boundary of Parcel 8 to retain National Forest System lands with 5 acres of wetlands. This also retains lands that are important to the Big Sky snowmobile community and retains more of the Eglise Rock Overlook Trail.
2
Inspiration Divide Exchange Components
The Final Decision provides for more efficient private lands management in the Eglise Peak area which eliminates the potential for future special use proposals associated with access or development.
3
Preservation of Character and Limited Development:
The Final Decision includes perpetual protections to help retain the character of lands leaving Federal ownership through a conservation easement. The easement limits future development on Parcels 8, 9 and 10 in the Inspiration Divide area.
When the swipe tool is moved to the right, current ownership is shown with multiple national forest and private owned parcels in a checkerboard pattern. When the swipe tool is moved to the left, the checkerboard pattern of land is largely gone, with National Forest System lands consolidated into one contiguous block.
The Public Process
November 2022
Custer Gallatin Forest presented the Proposed Land Exchange for public review and 45 day comment period. Watch the Video with Forest Supervisor Mary Erickson to learn more about the evolution of the land exchange and the Preliminary Environmental Assessment.
Spring 2023 - September 2023
Refined the analysis and developed the Modified Proposed Action - Alternative 1 - to incorporate public comment
September 27, 2023 - November 13, 2023
45 day objection period
November 13 - January 2024
Objection Resolution Process
January 2024 - January 2025
Tribal and wolverine consultation, additional negotiations to respond to public comment. Appraisals completed (July 2024).
January 17, 2025
Environmental Analysis completed and Final Decision released
February 2025 - 2026
Decision implementation includes title review, drafting of documents (for example the binding Exchange Agreement and deeds), conducting additional inspections, and finally the exchange of deeds. Work on the trail and trailhead will begin after the deeds are exchanged and will be completed in multiple phases.
