Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument

Resource Management Plan Revision

FACT SHEET: Recreation Management Areas

Program Contact: Tim Finger, Outdoor Recreation Specialist (406) 896-5248

The 434,154 acres of BLM public lands within the Billings Field Office provide a variety of outstanding 

outdoor recreational opportunities for many different user groups and interests. Recreational opportunities 

are offered to the public on all BLM administered lands in the planning area where legal access exists. 

About 300,000 visitors use public lands in the planning area each year and this number continues to grow. 

Recreation Management Areas 

The Billings and Pompeys Pillar National Monument Draft RMP/EIS considers a range of alternatives to 

address different experiences, uses and opportunities on BLM public lands, and within those public lands, 

identifies recreation management area designations that are based on recreation demand and issues, 

recreation setting characteristics, and compatibility with other resource uses and resource protection

The RMP identifies the following types of recreation management areas within the range of alternatives:

 Special Recreation Management Areas (SRMAs) – These areas would be given management 

priority to provide quality recreation opportunities and visitor experiences. 

 Extensive Recreation Management Areas (ERMAs) – These areas would require specific 

management consideration to address recreation use, demand or Recreation and Visitor Service 

program investments. 

 Non-designated areas – All remaining lands would be managed to meet basic recreation and 

visitor services and resource stewardship needs. 

The table below summarizes the number and acreages of SRMAs and ERMAs by alternative.

Recreation Management Areas

Alt A

(No Action)

Alt B Alt C Alt D

(Preferred)

Special Recreation 

Management Areas 

(SRMAs)

2 SRMAs

1,171 acres

6 SRMAs

90,783 acres

11 SRMAs

147,181 acres

9 SRMAs

110,862 acres

Extensive 

Recreation 

Management Areas

(ERMAs)

7 ERMAs

105,460 acres

5 ERMAs

7,668 acres 0 ERMAs 3 ERMAs36,391 acres

Non-designated 

lands

All lands not 

designated as 

SRMAs are 

managed as 

ERMAs 

(327,518 acres)

Manage the following 

areas as nondesignated areas: the 

remaining public lands 

not identified above as 

SRMAs or ERMAs 

(327,421 acres)

Manage the following 

areas as nondesignated areas: the 

remaining public lands 

not identified above as 

SRMAs or ERMAs 

(288,495 acres)

Manage the following 

areas as nondesignated areas: the 

remaining public lands 

not identified above as

SRMAs or ERMAs 

(322,418 acres)
The table below identifies the recreation areas by alternative for SRMA or ERMA management.

Recreation Management Areas

Alternative A

(No Action) Alternative B Alternative C Alternative D(Preferred)

Manage the following 

areas as SRMAs (2 

SRMAs – 1,171 acres) 

(Maps 80, 84, 85): 

 Sundance Lodge 

Recreation Area (387 

acres) 

 Four Dances Natural 

Area/ ACEC (784 

acres) 

The following areas 

would be managed as 

SRMAs (6 SRMAs –

90,783 acres) (Maps 81, 

84, 85, 86a, 90, 92,101) : 

 Sundance Lodge 

Recreation Area (387 

acres) 

 Four Dances Natural 

Area/ ACEC (784 

acres) 

 Shepherd Ah -Nei 

Recreation Area (4,680 

acres)

 Acton Recreation Area 

(3,697 acres) 

 Bundy Island (98 acres) 

 Pryor Mountain TMA 

(81,227 acres)

The following areas 

would be managed as 

SRMAs (11 SRMAs –

147,181 acres) (Maps 82, 

84, 85, 86a, 88, 90, 92, 

94, 98, 99, 100): 

 Sundance Lodge 

Recreation Area (387 

acres) 

 Four Dances Natural 

Area ACEC (784 acres) 

 Shepherd Ah-Nei 

Recreation Area (4,680 

acres) 

 Acton Recreation Area 

(3,697 acres) 

 Yellowstone River 

Corridor (1⁄2 mile 

corridor from 

centerline) (6,311 acres) 

 South Hills TMA 

(1,357 acres) 

 Mill Creek/Bundy 

TMA(34,239 acres) 

 Pryor Mountain TMA 

(81,227 acres) 

 Horsethief TMA 

(12,261 acres) 

 17 Mile (2,080 acres) 

 Asparagus Point (158 

acres)

The following areas 

would be managed as 

SRMAs (9 SRMAs –

110,862 acres) (Maps 83, 

84, 85, 86a, 88, 90, 92, 

94, 98, 99): 

 Sundance Lodge 

Recreation Area (387 

acres) 

 Four Dances Natural 

Area ACEC (784 acres) 

 Shepherd Ah-Nei 

Recreation Area (4,680 

acres) 

 Acton Recreation Area 

(3,697 acres) 

 Yellowstone River 

Corridor (1⁄2 mile 

corridor from 

centerline) (6,311 acres) 

 Asparagus Point (158 

acres) 

 South Hills TMA 

(1,357 acres) 

 Pryor Mountain TMA 

(81,227 acres) 

 Horsethief TMA 

(12,261 acres)

Manage the following 7 

areas as ERMAs 

(105,460 acres) (Maps 

86, 87, 89, 91, 93, 95, 

97): 

 Shepherd Ah-Nei 

Recreation Area (4,680 

acres) 

 Acton Recreation Area 

(3,697 acres) 

 South Hills TMA 

(1,357 acres) 

 Pryor Mountain TMA 

(81,227 acres) 

 Horsethief TMA 

(12,261 acres) 

 17 Mile (2,080 acres) 

 Asparagus Point Area 

(158 acres)

Manage the following 5 

areas as ERMAs (7,668 

acres) (Maps 87, 93, 95, 

97, 99a) : 

 Horsethief TMA 

(12,261 acres) 

 17 Mile (2,080 acres) 

 Asparagus Point (158 

acres) 

 Yellowstone River 

Corridor (1⁄2 mile 

corridor from 

centerline) (6,213 acres) 

 South Hills TMA 

(1,357 acres)

Manage the following 

areas as ERMAs: 

 None

Manage the following 2 

areas as ERMAs (36,319 

acres) (Maps 95, 100a): 

 17 Mile (2,080 acres) 

 Mill Creek/Bundy TMA 

(34,239 acres)