Maps: Northwest Region

Northwest Montana covers a lot of territory. This big, rugged landscape, replete with wild animals and dense forests, offers endless opportunities for outdoor recreation and adventures in the wild to residents and visitors alike.

The future happiness of the Northwest’s citizens and their quality of life depend in an immediate way on protecting the wild character of its publicly owned wildlands. Montana Wilderness Association believes it is possible for our Northwest communities to prosper and to maintain the wild flavor and outdoor spirit that make life in the Northwest special. Join our efforts to promote a balanced use of the region’s natural resources with the preservation of its wilderness legacy.

Two National Forests comprise the vast majority of land ownership in the Northwest—the Kootenai and the Flathead. These lands contain legendary Montana Wilderness areas, breathtaking scenery, and boundless opportunities for hunting, fishing, backpacking, and just plain outdoor enjoyment.

Both National Forests run along the U.S./Canada border, and serve as vital connectors to wildlife populations coming and going from Canadian wildlands. The Cabinet-Yaak region and the Crown of the Continent area have been identified by the Yukon to Yellowstone campaign as critical corridors for maintaining wildlife. Montana Wilderness Association believes the Kootenai and Flathead Forests must maintain and enhance this living connection to the north.

The Kootenai National Forest covers 2.2 million acres, stretching from the Canadian line to the Idaho border on the south and west, and to the Flathead National Forest on the east.

The Forest’s sole Wilderness area—the Cabinet Mountains Wilderness—was established in 1964 as part of the original Wilderness Act. Many other worthy areas in the Kootenai await Wilderness designation by Congress, including the Scotchman Peaks, Yaak Valley, and Cabinet Additions wilderness proposals.

Joining the Kootenai on the east, and running from the Canadian border almost to Missoula, the Flathead National Forest covers 2.3 million acres and contains some of the wildest lands in the Lower 48, including the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat, Great Bear and Mission Mountain wilderness areas. These protected areas were established by Congress after years of effort on the part of Montana citizens and the Montana Wilderness Association.

Congress must protect more areas as Wilderness in the coming years if Northwest Montana is to retain its richness of wildlife and its wilderness recreational opportunities. The Scotchman Peaks and Winton Weydemeyer proposed wilderness deserve to join the list of magnificent, protected wild areas in the Flathead. Other on-going efforts include campaigns to establish the Swan Crest Wilderness and to add critical additions to the Mission Mountain Wilderness.

You can get involved in this region by contacting our Flathead-Kootenai Chapter or joining us on a Wilderness Walk.

The Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, Mission Mountain Wilderness, Bob Marshall Wilderness, Ten Lakes Wilderness Study Area, Flathead National Forest, Kootenai National Forest and Lolo National Forest are found in this region. For more information check Wilderness Areas, Wilderness Study Areas and National Forests.

More information about the Scotchman Peaks Wilderness Campaign and the Winton Weydemeyer Wilderness campaign can be found at Campaigns.