Scapegoat Wilderness
The Scapegoat Wilderness is part of the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Located in Northwestern Montana on both sides of the Continental Divide, this large complex includes three Wilderness areas: the...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
active
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Montana |
| Size | 259,756 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1972, by Congress |
| Center point | 47.2551, -112.8005 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 14) |
Boundary map
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
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 13 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 moreHide
1 more within ten miles is not listed here.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 horse Riding. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 5 miBob Marshall Wilderness Complex ↗Horse Riding
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- WildfireCamp Creek
18 mi from the center point · 9,725 acres · 99% contained
- WildfireSilvertip
46 mi from the center point · 7,280 acres · 99% contained
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
- 6.5 miDearborn River High Bridge ↗Augusta, MT
- 9.6 miLincoln Lodge ↗Lincoln, MT
- 9.7 miLincoln Community Hall ↗Lincoln, MT
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Scapegoat Wilderness?
259,756 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Scapegoat Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Scapegoat Wilderness in?
Montana.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Scapegoat Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1972.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Scapegoat Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Wood Lake Campground, 1.2 miles out. 13 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 Scapegoat Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site here, including 1 horse riding. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Scapegoat Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 47.255, -112.800. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Scapegoat Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Camp Creek at 18 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Scapegoat 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 Scapegoat Wilderness?
3 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Dearborn River High Bridge and Lincoln Lodge.
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.