State Trust Lands are properties managed by the Department of Natural Resources and Conservation (DNRC) for the sole purpose of generating income for public schools and other public institutions. Legally accessible State Trust Lands can be accessed by public roads, public easements, public waters that are recreationally navigable under the Stream Access Law, by adjacent federal, state, county, or municipal land that is open to public use, or by permission of an adjacent private landowner.
For land ownership maps and more information regarding State Lands, contact DNRC at (406) 444-2074.
A State Land Recreation Use Permit is required for anyone conducting a non-commercial activity on State Trust Lands not related to hunting and fishing. Applicable non-commercial activities include, but are not limited to, hiking, skiing, sightseeing, and day horseback use.
The State Land Recreation Use Permit is not required when using State Trust Lands for hunting or fishing, because a $2.00 fee is included in the Montana Conservation License for use of these lands.
The State Land Recreation Use Permit is available from any authorized FWP license agent or through the Online Licenses Service. The permit is valid for one license year—March 1 to the last day of February.
The following activities require separate authorization from DNRC:
The Special Recreational Use License is available only from DNRC offices.
Central Land Office
Helena
(406) 458-3500
Eastern Land Office
Miles City
(406) 232-2034
Northeastern Land Office
Lewistown
(406) 538-7789
Northwestern Land Office
Kalispell
(406) 751-2240
Southern Land Office
Billings
(406) 247-4400
Southwestern Land Office
Missoula
(406) 542-4200