Hiking and Backpacking the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

[Aaron Zagrodnick]

For backpackers seeking an immersive wilderness experience in uncrowded and ruggedly beautiful country, the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is a perfect destination. Located along the Montana and Idaho border, this 1.3 million acre wilderness is one of the original wilderness areas designated in the 1964 Wilderness Act and is the third-largest wilderness area in the Lower 48. Hundreds of miles of trails provide access to lakes, peaks, lookouts, enchanting forests, and wild rivers and streams. This wilderness area truly is a paradise for backpackers. Its sheer size and distance from major population centers allows for great odds at solitude, especially the further from trailheads you hike. Since the highest peak tops out at just over 10,000 feet, most hikers won't need to devote any time to acclimating to altitude as they would for trips to 14ers in Colorado. Whether you're looking to soak in a hot spring, catch trout at a mountain lake, or cover serious distance, you can find a trip suited to your desires...

@Mark details the outdoor opportunities that abound in this northern Rockies wilderness area - take a look in Issue 41:

Hiking and Backpacking the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

Issue 41 Page 1