Little Belt National Forest was established as the Little Belt Forest Reserve by the U.S. Forest Service in Montana on October 3, 1905 with 583600acres after a name change from Little Belt Mountains Forest Reserve, which was established on August 16, 1902 with 501000acres. It became a National Forest on March 4, 1907. On July 1, 1908 the entire forest was combined with Highwood Mountains, Snowy Mountains and Little Rockies National Forests to establish Jefferson National Forest and the name was discontinued. The lands are included in Lewis and Clark National Forest.[1]
The forest is part of the Jefferson Division of Lewis and Clark National Forest. The Little Belt Mountains are included in the unit, primarily in Meagher, Cascade, Judith Basin and Wheatland Counties.[2]