The Caribou-Targhee National Forest occupies over 3 million acres and stretches across southeastern Idaho, from the Montana, Utah, and Wyoming borders. This Forest is also home to the Curlew National Grasslands. The National Forest Store now offers secure on-line sales through our partner, the National Forest Foundation.

Download and Print Ranger District Maps - May not be compatible with Mac computers Palisades Ranger District offers maps that you can download and print off your computer. These maps give you various trail information. Download Dubois Ranger District travel plan maps off the website and print these colored maps from your printer. Teton Basin Ranger District offers maps that you can download and print off your computer. These maps are very detailed and give you trail information. Ashton/Island Park Ranger District offers a North map and a South map that you can download and print off your computer. Montpelier Ranger District motor vehicle use maps. These maps give motorized travel regulations. Soda Springs Ranger District motor vehicle use map. These maps give motorized travel regulations. WestsideRanger District North motor vehicle use map. These maps give motorized travel regulations. WestsideRanger District South motor vehicle use map. These maps give motorized travel regulations. Your Safety is Important to Us This past winter the state of Idaho enacted legislation that allows individuals to operate off-highway vehicles (OHV) on National Forest System roads, whether or not they have a driver's license. When traveling on National Forest System roads to or from your favorite camping or hunting spot, you may encounter other drivers of all ages with varying experience levels and different types of motorized vehicles. Please take extra care to watch for all kinds of traffic to avoid life-altering collisions on roads managed by your national forest. We are working with elected officials and interested publics to identify legislative solutions that will help protect both the opportunity for OHV recreation and all of our visitors.   Hunters: Watch out for kids on forest roads The Forest Service just released a new 60-second public service announcement (PSA) that gives Idaho hunters a head's up that they should watch out for kids riding motorbikes and ATVs on forest roads this fall.   Idaho law allows kids to ride trail machines on forest roads as long as they are accompanied by an adult. The Forest Service is concerned about child safety. The PSA was viewed as a short-term solution. The PSA has been distributed to all TV network stations in Idaho, as well as TV stations in the Spokane market, cable services and other TV outlets. It's also on YouTube and www.stayontrails.com.   Please follow all visitor rules and practice good safety when visiting the National Forests. For more information regarding OHV safety, click on the following links: www.stayontrails.com www.idaho-ohv.com

Chief's Message
Tom Tidwell

I cannot tell you how pleased I am that the Secretary not only understands our mission, but understands the importance of that mission, and fully supports where we need to head.
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Secure Rural Schools

SRS project proposals are due January 29, 2010. Click here for the on-line form and instructions.

Christmas Tree Tags

Caribou-Targhee National Forest Christmas tree tag sales are in full swing for the holiday season. Click here for more information.

Tags are for sale at Forest Service offices and at many vendor locations making tags available on weekends and evening hours. Click here for a list of vendors.

The Dubois office will also be open on the following weekends: November 28 and 29, December 5, 6, 12 and 19 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m.

Firewood Permits

For Firewood Permit information, click

Minnetonka Cave

Minnetonka Cave, in beautiful St. Charles Canyon northwest of Bear Lake, offers a half-mile of fascinating stalactites, stalagmites, and banded travertine in nine rooms.

Secure Rural Schools

On October 3, 2008, H.R. 1424 became Public Law (P.L.) 110-343. Section 601 in Division C of H.R. 1424 reauthorized and amended the Secure Rural Schools and Community Self-Determination Act of 2000 as originally enacted in P.L. 106-393. More than $500 million for FY 2008 will be available to 41 states and Puerto Rico for improvements to public schools, road maintenance and stewardship projects under this act.

Current Recreation Information

The Forest began the Recreation Facility Analysis in October 2005 by editing and updating it's recreation sites database. The recreation niche for the Forest was defined as "Accessible Adventures" by compiling information and knowledge from Forest Service recreation professionals and others. A draft plan was completed, updated and refined until it was approved by Mary Wagner for the Regional Forester on October 3, 2007. The Caribou-Targhee National Forest Recreation Facility Anaylsis provides a comprehensive look a the management of rereation sites in relation to the Forest niche.

You can rent our rustic cabins anytime of the year, sun, rain or snow. Enjoy your stay!

Poisonous Plants of Southeast Idaho

Many adults and children become seriously ill by consuming poisonous plants. sometimes this poisoning is accidental, and sometimes poisoning is the result of the misidentification or misuse of medicinal herbs. The Caribou-Targhee National Forest has prepared a brief field guide to the poisonous plants commonly found in Southeast Idaho. For a copy of this guide Click here.

Expanded Bear Food Storage Order
Caribou-Targhee National Forest managers have expanded the existing food storage order. The expanded order is intended to reduce adverse human-grizzly bear interactions, thereby promoting human safety and the protection of bears and other wildlife species at locations in the Targhee National Forest. 

• Forest Order Number 04-15-0063, Occupancy and Use Restrictions
• March 19, 2008 News Release
• Map of closure area in 1985
• Map of closure area in 2001
• Map of closure area in 2008

Smokey Canyon Mine Panels F&G Expansion Record of Decision (Forest Service)

USFS authorization is required for all off-lease operations related to mining. The USFS is required to evaluate alternatives for providing access to existing phosphate leases and issue a decision whether or not to authorize use of NFS land outside of lease boundaries and to establish terms and conditions for any Special Use Authorizations (SUA’s) for haul roads, access roads, power lines and topsoil stockpiles located outside of the phosphate lease boundaries on National Forest System Lands (NFS). To view the Record of Decision click here.

Smokey Canyon Mine Panels F&G Expansion Record of Decision (Bureau of Land Management)

The BLM is required to evaluate mining proposals and determine whether and how to authorize mining operations on the phosphate leases. This includes consideration of the alternative scenarios for operations within the lease boundaries, and decisions to modify or enlarge the existing leases to maximize the recovery of available phosphate ore. To view the Record of Decision click here.

Forest Health Alert - Western Spruce Budworm

Western spruce budworm populations are once again on the rise. Large areas of moderate to heavy defoliation of Douglas-fir have been reported across southeastern Idaho. The last outbreak ended in 1987 after defoliating millions of trees over more than 20 years.

Grizzly Bear Habitat Amendment

The forest supervisors of the six national forests within the Greater Yellowstone Area signed the Record of Decision to incorporate grizzly bear habitat standards into forest plans.

The amendment requires that habitat standards from the Grizzly Bear Conservation Strategy be incorporated into long-term management of the forests. Click here for more information.

Big Hole Mountain Subsection Summer Travel Management Plan

The Caribou-Targhee National Forest has completed the Environmental Assessment for this plan and issued a Final Decision notice signed on March 17, 2008. No appeals were received and as of May 6th, the Plan is now in effect. The goal of this plan is to provide and manage trail opportunities for ATV's, motorcycles, mountain bikes and non-motorized uses that are safe, environmentally sound, affordable to manage and maintain, and responsive to public needs. Please Click here for more information.

Caribou Travel Plan
Click here to download final documents and maps.

Goshawk R1 Overview December 2009

Current Conditions:

District Office Information:

Click on the map above to make
larger, with Ranger District information.