Gates of the Mountains Wilderness
Two sons of Chevalier Vendrye, the French explorer, passed through the area known as the Gates of the Mountains as early as 1742. They were probably the first white men to gaze upon its precipices. However...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Montana |
| Size | 28,460 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 46.8725, -111.8131 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 14) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
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
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 10 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedBear Gulch Rx
24 mi from the center point · 220 acres
- PrescribedJohnny Bonanza Rx
45 mi from the center point · 42 acres
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
- 10.2 miMissouri River Bridge ↗Wolf Creek, MT
- 10.5 miSheep Creek Bridge ↗Wolf Creek, MT
- 11.3 miWolf Creek Hotel ↗Wolf Creek, MT
- 12.3 miSilver Creek School ↗Helena, MT
- 14.3 miSilver City Cemetery ↗Silver City, MT
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Gates of the Mountains Wilderness?
28,460 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Gates of the Mountains Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Gates of the Mountains Wilderness in?
Montana.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Gates of the Mountains Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1964.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Gates of the Mountains Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Aspen Grove Campground, 1.4 miles out. 10 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
How do I get to Gates of the Mountains Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 46.873, -111.813. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Gates of the Mountains Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Bear Gulch Rx at 24 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Gates of the Mountains Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 14 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 Gates of the Mountains Wilderness?
5 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Missouri River Bridge and Sheep Creek Bridge.
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.