Unit 211 District 211 (Region 2)
High Sapphire-to-Continental-Divide backcountry above Rock Creek's headwaters
Upper Rock Creek / Georgetown Lake — Region 2 · Last reviewed 2026-07-12
Area
408
sq mi
Public land
80%
approx.
Elevation
5,500–9,800
feet
Motorized
limited
access
Overview
HD 211 'Upper Rock Creek-Georgetown Lake' occupies the high southern headwaters of Rock Creek in Granite County, ringed by Skalkaho Pass, State Route 38, the Georgetown Lake area on SR 1, Storm Lake, and the Continental Divide down to the Bitterroot-Rock Creek Divide. This is a high, mostly public backcountry district — part of the Rock Creek & Flint Creek Elk Management Unit — with elk in roadless timber, mule deer in high basins, and moose and mountain goats along the alpine divides.
Terrain
High-elevation headwaters basin rising from Rock Creek and Georgetown Lake to the alpine Continental Divide and Sapphire crest.
Cover: Lodgepole and spruce-fir forest, willow-lined creek headwaters and beaver flats, subalpine parks and whitebark, opening to alpine tundra and talus along the Divide.
Landmarks: Continental Divide · Storm Lake · Storm Lake Pass · Skalkaho Pass · Georgetown Lake · Sapphire/Bitterroot-Rock Creek Divide · upper Rock Creek headwaters
Access
Overwhelmingly national forest and open to public hunting, this district is more about backcountry effort than access permission. Skalkaho Pass (SR 38), Storm Lake Road and the Georgetown Lake corridor give entry; upper Rock Creek and Continental Divide trails reach the roadless core. Scattered private and state trust exist near Georgetown Lake and the valley fringes — Block Management is a minor factor here versus the eastern prairie districts.
Managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, USFS Lolo NF, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management
Access points: Skalkaho Pass / State Route 38 · Storm Lake Road to Storm Lake and Storm Lake Trail · Georgetown Lake / SR 1 corridor · upper Rock Creek Road · Continental Divide National Scenic Trail
Species notes
Rocky Mountain Elk
common qualityPart of the Rock Creek & Flint Creek EMU; elk summer high in roadless timber and subalpine parks near the Divide.
- →Backpack into roadless basins off Storm Lake and Skalkaho
- →Hunt high meadow-timber edges at dawn during the September rut
- →Cow-call the timbered heads of the upper drainages
- →Follow elk to leeward timber after early storms
Mule Deer
common qualityMule deer use the high basins, subalpine parks and open Divide faces — good bucks for those who climb.
- →Glass alpine and subalpine basins at first light
- →Hunt high above trailheads early before snow
- →Rut hunt the high country in late November when accessible
Moose
limited opportunityShiras moose use willow-lined headwaters and beaver flats of upper Rock Creek; permit-only.
- →Glass willow bottoms and pond complexes at dawn and dusk
- →Work the wet subalpine creek heads
Mountain Goat
limited qualityMountain goats hold the alpine cliffs and talus along the Continental Divide; a coveted permit-only hunt.
- →Glass high rock faces and ledges along the Divide
- →Plan a physical backcountry pack hunt above timberline
Black Bear
common opportunityBlack bears range the timbered drainages and berry basins throughout the district.
- →Glass green avalanche chutes in spring
- →Hunt huckleberry basins in late summer and fall
Cougar
common opportunityLions follow deer and elk through the high timber; a winter snow-tracking hunt where roads stay open.
- →Cut tracks on snow along accessible forest roads
- →Focus lower deer-wintering timber as high country closes
Pro tips
- →This is a backpack/effort district — the public land is huge, the payoff is going deep
- →Get in high early; Skalkaho Pass and Divide trails close fast with snow
- →Storm Lake and the Continental Divide trail are the keys to the roadless core
- →Watch the forecast — early alpine storms can end high access overnight
- →Goat and moose are permit-only; apply and scout the Divide cliffs and willow heads
Watch out for
- !High-elevation, remote terrain — carry navigation, shelter and cold-weather gear
- !Skalkaho Pass is a narrow gravel road that becomes dangerous or impassable with snow/ice
- !Early and heavy snow can strand vehicles and close trails
- !Black-bear country with expanding grizzly presence near the Anaconda-Pintler front — carry bear spray and store food properly
Logistics
Philipsburg and Anaconda are the nearest service towns; Georgetown Lake offers seasonal lodging and boat/fuel access. This is high, remote country — Skalkaho Pass (SR 38) is a narrow gravel mountain road that closes with snow, and upper trails demand backcountry fitness and weather readiness.
Nearest towns: Philipsburg, Anaconda, Georgetown Lake, Hamilton
Seasons & regulations
This page carries no season dates or regulations. Get current rules from the official Montana sources:
Research sources: MTFWP 2024/2025 Deer & Elk Legal Descriptions (HD 211 Upper Rock Creek-Georgetown Lake) · MTFWP 2024 Elk Count — Rock Creek & Flint Creek EMU · Montana Rock Creek Cabin — district access notes
FAQ
- How big is Unit 211 in Montana?
- Unit 211 (District 211 (Region 2)) covers about 408 square miles, ranging from roughly 5,500 to 9,800 feet in elevation. Area is computed from the unit boundary polygon.
- How much public land is in Unit 211?
- Approximately 80% of the unit is public land. Primary managers: USFS Beaverhead-Deerlodge NF, USFS Lolo NF, MT DNRC state trust, private ranch + Block Management. Always verify ownership boundaries on the ground.
- What species does the catalog list for Unit 211?
- Rocky Mountain Elk, Mule Deer, Moose, Mountain Goat, Black Bear, Cougar. For seasons, tags, and regulations, use the official Montana agency resources linked on this page — this page carries no regulatory information.
Put Unit 211 on your map.
Boundary lines, public/private ownership, topo, and offline maps for this unit — in Baseline Maps, free for 14 days.