Highlands unit is found in portions of the following counties: Beaverhead, Madison, Jefferson and Silver Bow. Interstate 15 creates the western boundary between Butte and Dillon. Deerlodge National Forest and BLM lands including 11,000 acre roadless Humbug Spires Wilderness Study Area offers thousands of acres of public access. Moose range from 5,900 feet near Rochester Creek north to Interstate 90. Residents may apply for a limited bull antlered license.

BLM managed Humbug Spires Wilderness Study Area “offers superb granite climbing, stunning vistas of Big Sky Country and a truly alpine feel to all endeavors. While being relatively remote, this is a moderately popular climbing and backpacking area, with a growing reputation for having a unique quality unto its own." Expect medium to high multiple use throughout the fall. Bulls range from low 120” to 140” Boone and Crockett scores. A mature bull scoring above 140” B&C is very difficult to find.

Highland Mountains are made up of 10,000 foot Table Mountain, Toll Mountain, East Peak, Red Mountain, White Pine and Brazil Ridge, Ironrod Hills, Mt. Humbug and Hells Canyon. Landscape is very rocky, rugged, and steep with a number of granite outcrops. One of the prominent granite spires is the Wedge close to Humbug Mountain. Emerald Lake with its rocky shoreline sits at 8,700 on the north side of Table Mountain. Creeks south of the Continental Divide flow towards the Big Hole River, creeks coming off the eastern slopes off Highland Mountains empty into the Jefferson River. Dropping out of the mountains elevations fall to 4,500 feet with vast areas of open range, rolling hills, gulches and seasonal creeks.

Lower elevations near the Big Hole River in the west and Jefferson River in the east support irrigated crops, lush meadows and dense pockets of willow and groves of cottonwood. The river bottoms yield to short grass open range and sagebrush flats broken up by seasonal creeks and gulches. Foothills have mountain shrubs, ponderosa pine and some pockets of aspen. Higher on mountain slopes one can find spruce, fir, lodgepole and ponderosa pines with some open grassy meadows scattered on ridges, along creek bottoms and on south facing slopes.

National Forest road and trail system combined with county roads provides good access into the Highland Mountains and the Continental Divide. 11,000 acre roadless Humbug Spires Wilderness Study Area managed by BLM is reached by taking Exit 99 (Moose Creek) from I-15 and traveling east about 3 miles to the trailhead parking lot. Old and active mining claims are reached by four wheel-drive tracts. County and Forest Service roads can become extremely muddy during periods of heavy rains. A fast moving November storm can bring feet of snow to the backcountry making some Forest Service roads impassable.

Deerlodge National Forest limits camping in an area, campsite, or developed campground to 16 accumulated days within any 30 day period. Butte offers a wide variety of motels, lodges, Bed & Breakfast, café and restaurants, medical facilities, a regional airport and 24/7 gas and diesel. Dillon and Whitehall have a number of motels, cafes, a medical facility and 24/7 gas and diesel.