Medicine Lake Wilderness
Medicine Lake Wilderness lies within the glacial drift prairie of northeastern Montana. The gentle rolling hills and numerous shallow wetland depressions were created by repeated advances and retreats of glaciers. More than 12,000 years ago, a one to three mile-wide valley bordered by pre- and postglacial terraces was formed by a glacial front along the ancient route of the Missouri River. Sitting at about 2,000 feet in elevation, Medicine Lake is a large, shallow lake which filled this ancient valley. The Medicine Lake Wilderness includes the main water body of the lake, the islands within the lake, and a portion of land southeast of the lake.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service |
| State | Montana |
| Size | 11,366 acres |
| Designated | 1976, by Congress |
| Center point | 48.46° N, 104.39° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 13) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 12 miLarsen, Aage and Kristine, Homestead ↗Dagmar, MT
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Montana
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Medicine Lake Wilderness?
11,366 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Medicine Lake Wilderness?
The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Medicine Lake Wilderness in?
Montana.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Medicine Lake Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1976.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to Medicine Lake Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 48.456° N, 104.393° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Are there historic places near Medicine Lake Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Larsen, Aage and Kristine, Homestead.
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.