Bob Marshall, Great Bear & Scapegoat Wilderness Areas - Montana

Explore the third largest wilderness complex in the lower 48 states and pay respects to the Bob!

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex was named for early forester and Wilderness preservation pioneer, Bob Marshall, who was credited with single-handedly protecting at least 5.4 million acres of wildland and was the co-founder of The Wilderness Society. The Great Bear Wilderness, the Bob Marshall Wilderness and the Scapegoat Wilderness form the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex, an area of more than 1.5 million acres.

Designated the "Bob" in 1964, this wilderness area is one of the most preserved mountain ecosystems in the world and boasts rugged peaks, alpine lakes, cascading waterfalls, large meadows crossed by sparkling meandering streams, an extensive and towering coniferous forest and big river valleys. Wildlife lovers will enjoy looking for grizzly bears and endangered gray wolves as well as elk, whitetail and mule deer, Canadian lynx, bobcats, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, black bears, wolverines and cougars. The area is home to dozens of birds including bald eagles, falcons, hawks, owls, grouse, and woodpeckers.

Bob Marshall Country is most popular in the summer, with July being the peak month for recreational activities such as hiking and rock climbing. The Bob is also known as classic horse country because of its vastness, relatively gentle terrain, and wide mid-elevation river valleys with abundant forage for grazing. With more than 1,000 miles of a well-developed trail system, Montana's largest Wilderness is an adventurer's dream!