Wilderness
Together, the Great Bear, Bob Marshall, and Scapegoat Wildernesses form the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex (BMWC), an area of more than 1.5 million acres. The Flathead National Forest manages the largest portion of this Wilderness Complex. This is the third largest wilderness complex in the lower 48 states. They are managed by three national forests - Flathead, Helena-Lewis and Clark, and Lolo, and five ranger districts - Spotted Bear, Hungry Horse, Lincoln, Rocky Mountain, and Seeley Lake. You can learn more about the great work taking place across the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex in the annual complex newsletters.
Check out the page contents below to read about special regulations, find contact information, and see the latest trail conditions displayed in our interactive trail map!
The United States Congress designated the Bob Marshall Wilderness in 1964 and it now has a total of 1,009,352 acres. The entire wilderness is in Montana. It is managed by the Spotted Bear and Rocky Mountain Ranger Districts. The Bob Marshall Wilderness was named after early forester, wilderness preservation pioneer, and Wilderness Society cofounder Bob Marshall. This region was set aside as the South Fork, Pentagon, and Sun River Primitive Areas in 1941, and designated as wilderness in 1964. Here is one of the most completely preserved mountain ecosystems in the world, the kind of wilderness most people can only imagine: rugged peaks, alpine lakes, cascading waterfalls, grassy meadows embellished with shimmering streams, a towering coniferous forest, and big river valleys.
The United States Congress designated the Scapegoat Wilderness in 1972 and it now has a total of 239,936 acres. The entire wilderness is in Montana. It is managed by the Rocky Mountain, Lincoln, and Seeley Lake Ranger Districts. The long northwest border of Scapegoat Wilderness is shared with Bob Marshall Wilderness and the massive limestone cliffs that dominate 9,204-foot Scapegoat Mountain are an extension of the "Bob's" Chinese Wall. Scapegoat's rugged ridge tops slope down onto alpine meadows, heavily forested hillsides, and timbered river bottoms. Fish are plentiful in the 14 lakes and 89 miles of streams. Elevations range from about 5,000 feet on the Blackfoot River to about 9,400 feet on Red Mountain. Wildlife includes wolverines, moose, deer, elk, mountain goats, mountain sheep, mountain lions, black bears, and numerous grizzly bears.
The United States Congress designated the Great Bear Wilderness in 1978 and it now has a total of 286,700 acres. The entire wilderness is in Montana. It is managed by the Spotted Bear and Hungry Horse Ranger Districts. This Wilderness, on the western side of the Continental Divide, shares its southern border with Bob Marshall Wilderness, which in turn shares its southern border with Scapegoat Wilderness. Glacier National Park lies just across U.S. 2 to the north of Great Bear. Grizzly bear, lynx, wolverine, deer, elk, moose, black bear, mountain goat, and mountain sheep roam about these rugged ridge tops, gently sloping alpine meadows, and thickly forested river bottoms.
Special Regulations
Visit our alerts page to learn about special regulations for the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. You can also review our forest-wide food storage order, stay limit order, and other applicable information.
BMWC Trail Conditions Reports
New trail conditions will be posted here as soon as they are available from the field. Please see the contact information below and reach out to the appropriate office for more details.
BMWC Interactive Trail Map
Updates to the map and reports represent conditions at a single point in time; conditions on the ground are dynamic and can change quickly and considerably due to weather events, wildfire impacts, wildlife activity, and other factors. Please follow up with local ranger districts via phone to confirm details and that information is up to date.
BMWC Contact Information
Hungry Horse-Glacier View Ranger District
10 Hungry Horse Drive
Hungry Horse, MT 59919
(406) 387-3800
Spotted Bear Ranger District
Spotted Bear, MT
(406) 758-5376 (summer)
(406) 387-3800 (winter)
Lincoln Ranger District
1569 Highway 200
Lincoln, MT 59639
(406) 362-7000
Rocky Mountain Ranger District
1102 Main Ave. NW
Choteau, MT 59422
(406) 466-5341
Seeley Lake Ranger District
3583 Highway 83 North
Seeley Lake, MT 59868
(406) 406-677-2233