USFS · Wilderness area · Montana

Bob Marshall Wilderness

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex Located in Northwestern Montana on both sides of the Continental Divide, this large complex includes three Wilderness areas: the Great Bear, the Scapegoat, and the Bob...

Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Bob Marshall Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byU.S. Forest Service
StateMontana
Size1.1 million acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1964, by Congress
Center point47.6809, -113.1572
Night skyAbout as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 13)

Boundary map

1 outline

Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site

The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.

Where to camp

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 28 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.

Show 4 more

16 more within ten miles are not listed here.

Trailheads and sites

Forest Service directory · 1

The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 trailhead. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.

Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.

Fire nearby

Within 50 miles · as of 2026-09-17
  • Wildfire
    Silvertip

    12 mi from the center point · 7,280 acres · 99% contained

  • Wildfire
    Camp Creek

    18 mi from the center point · 9,725 acres · 99% contained

  • Prescribed
    Sb Silver Mule Rx

    23 mi from the center point

  • Prescribed
    Sb Horse Ridge Rx

    27 mi from the center point

Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.

Explore

Nearby on the other atlases

National Register listings within 15 miles · 4 in all · Register Atlas

Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Bob Marshall Wilderness?

1.1 million acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Bob Marshall Wilderness?

The U.S. Forest Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Bob Marshall Wilderness in?

Montana.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Bob Marshall Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1964.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Bob Marshall Wilderness?

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Kenck Cabin, 0 miles out. 28 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.

Source: Where to camp

Where are the trailheads in Bob Marshall Wilderness?

The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site here, including 1 trailhead. Each one links to its Forest Service page.

Source: Trailheads and sites

How do I get to Bob Marshall Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 47.681, -113.157. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Is there a fire near Bob Marshall Wilderness right now?

4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Silvertip at 12 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.

Source: Fire nearby

How dark is the night sky at Bob Marshall Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 13 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.

Source: NASA Black Marble

Are there historic places near Bob Marshall Wilderness?

4 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Double Arrow Lodge and Camp Paxson Boy Scout Camp (24mo77).

Source: Register Atlas

Sources

  • Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
  • Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
  • Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
  • Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
  • Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.