USFS · Wilderness area · Montana

Mission Mountains Wilderness

The Mission Mountains are a land of ragged peaks with snow on them most of the year, small active glaciers, alpine lakes, meadows, clear streams that run icy cold, slab-like boulders, vertical cliff faces...

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

Official page at Wilderness Connect ↗
Mission Mountains Wilderness
Photo from Wilderness Connect, wilderness.net
DesignationWilderness
Managed byU.S. Forest Service
StateMontana
Size74,524 acres (Wilderness Connect)
Designated1975, by Congress
Center point47.4566, -113.8637
Night skyAbout as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11)

Boundary map

1 outline

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

Campsite Atlas →

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 7 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

Within 50 miles · as of 2026-09-17
  • Prescribed
    Bison Range Br2F Rx

    19 mi from the center point

  • Prescribed
    Sb Silver Mule Rx

    36 mi from the center point

  • Wildfire
    Camp Creek

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

  • Prescribed
    Sb Horse Ridge Rx

    38 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 · 8 in all · Register Atlas

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

Reference

Questions people ask

How big is Mission Mountains Wilderness?

74,524 acres.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Who manages Mission Mountains Wilderness?

The U.S. Forest Service.

Source: Wilderness Connect

What state is Mission Mountains Wilderness in?

Montana.

Source: Wilderness Connect

When was Mission Mountains Wilderness designated?

Congress designated it in 1975.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Can I camp at Mission Mountains Wilderness?

No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Old Condon Ranger Station, 6.4 miles out. 7 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 Mission Mountains Wilderness?

A point inside the boundary is at 47.457, -113.864. The official page carries directions and the office address.

Source: Wilderness Connect

Is there a fire near Mission Mountains Wilderness right now?

4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Bison Range Br2F Rx at 19 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.

Source: Fire nearby

How dark is the night sky at Mission Mountains Wilderness?

NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 11 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 Mission Mountains Wilderness?

8 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Laird's Lodge Historic District and Olsson, Don E., House and Garage.

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.