Rankings

Best Montana Counties for Public Land Access

A sourced public land ranking from county-clipped public land layers.

Ranking boundary

Rankings Are Discovery Leads

A high ranking means a county is worth researching first. It is not legal advice, a recommendation to buy land, or proof that any parcel will qualify for a specific use.

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sourced

Public land access uses county-clipped public land acreage and a derived access score.

Source confidence

Ranking Confidence Strip

A quick trust check for the top-ranked counties: verified profiles, major source coverage, citation depth, and the number of source inputs behind this ranking.

coverage watch

Top 10 profilesverified

10/10

Sourced county profiles

Source coveragewatch

0/10

Major sourced layers present

Citation depthsourced

118

Top 10 county citation URLs

Ranking inputssourced

Source groups used by this ranking

Methodology Data status Source glossary

#1Flathead CountyPartially sourced2,552,708 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Flathead County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#2Beaverhead CountyPartially sourced2,426,595 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Beaverhead County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#3Lincoln CountyPartially sourced1,802,872 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Lincoln County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#4Phillips CountyPartially sourced1,574,157 acres

Official Montana source anchors added for Phillips County using state-hosted county planning and environmental-health materials; county-office confirmation and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#5Valley CountyPartially sourced1,383,415 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Valley County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#6Lewis and Clark CountyPartially sourced1,275,914 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Lewis and Clark County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#7Madison CountyPartially sourced1,228,164 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Madison County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#8Ravalli CountyPartially sourced1,148,803 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Ravalli County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#9Missoula CountyPartially sourced1,126,132 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Missoula County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#10Park CountyPartially sourced990,776 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Park County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#11Sanders CountyPartially sourced979,259 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Sanders County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#12Powell CountyPartially sourced914,839 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Powell County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#13Garfield CountyPartially sourced881,969 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Garfield County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#14Gallatin CountyPartially sourced787,489 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Gallatin County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#15Carter CountyPartially sourced739,779 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Carter County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#16Powder River CountyPartially sourced737,414 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Powder River County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#17Granite CountyPartially sourced724,685 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Granite County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#18Mineral CountyPartially sourced701,999 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Mineral County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#19Fergus CountyPartially sourced665,607 acres

Official Montana source anchors added for Fergus County using state-hosted county planning materials; county-office confirmation and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#20Blaine CountyPartially sourced635,285 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Blaine County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#21Carbon CountyPartially sourced613,174 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Carbon County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#22Meagher CountyPartially sourced586,913 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Meagher County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#23Jefferson CountyPartially sourced583,016 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Jefferson County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#24Custer CountyPartially sourced548,208 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Custer County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#25Prairie CountyPartially sourced522,700 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Prairie County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#26Rosebud CountyPartially sourced511,885 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Rosebud County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#27Petroleum CountyPartially sourced448,963 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Petroleum County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#28Chouteau CountyPartially sourced424,715 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Chouteau County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#29Judith Basin CountyPartially sourced417,710 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Judith Basin County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#30Glacier CountyPartially sourced404,345 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Glacier County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#31Teton CountyPartially sourced402,708 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Teton County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#32McCone CountyPartially sourced345,439 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for McCone County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#33Sweet Grass CountyPartially sourced341,502 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Sweet Grass County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#34Cascade CountyPartially sourced308,090 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Cascade County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#35Deer Lodge CountyPartially sourced299,584 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Deer Lodge County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#36Broadwater CountyPartially sourced284,158 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Broadwater County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#37Silver Bow CountyPartially sourced271,812 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Silver Bow County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#38Lake CountyPartially sourced265,317 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Lake County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#39Stillwater CountyPartially sourced257,033 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Stillwater County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#40Hill CountyPartially sourced220,864 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Hill County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#41Daniels CountyPartially sourced213,491 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Daniels County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#42Fallon CountyPartially sourced193,961 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Fallon County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#43Musselshell CountyPartially sourced189,910 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Musselshell County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#44Yellowstone CountyPartially sourced172,408 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Yellowstone County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#45Pondera CountyPartially sourced169,552 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Pondera County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#46Dawson CountyPartially sourced165,047 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Dawson County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#47Toole CountyPartially sourced149,185 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Toole County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#48Wheatland CountyPartially sourced144,984 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Wheatland County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#49Richland CountyPartially sourced141,028 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Richland County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#50Liberty CountyPartially sourced114,493 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Liberty County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#51Big Horn CountyPartially sourced106,425 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Big Horn County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#52Golden Valley CountyPartially sourced86,357 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Golden Valley County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#53Sheridan CountyPartially sourced79,079 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Sheridan County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#54Wibaux CountyPartially sourced61,412 acres

Official Montana source anchors added for Wibaux County using state-hosted county planning and environmental-health materials; county-office confirmation and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#55Treasure CountyPartially sourced41,275 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Treasure County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

#56Roosevelt CountyPartially sourced27,104 acres

Official Montana county-rule source anchors added for Roosevelt County; office confirmation, link audit follow-up, and land-market collection are still needed before verified status.

Ranking Source Trail

Public land rankings use county-clipped acreage and a derived access score for recreation context.

Source glossary

Primary Public Land Layer

Public land acreage layersCounty-clipped public land acreage and derived recreation access signal.

Context

Climate and snowfall layersCounty-level climate context used for off-grid and homesteading discovery, not parcel design.Dataset coverage reportLayer-by-layer coverage status for live county datasets.