Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, Protected wilderness area in Montana, United States
Cabinet Mountains Wilderness is a protected wilderness area in Montana covering about 94,000 acres with deep valleys, glaciated peaks, and numerous alpine lakes. The terrain ranges from forest floors to high mountain ridges within the Kootenai National Forest boundary.
The area was designated as a Primitive Area in 1935 and later protected as official wilderness through the National Wilderness Preservation Act in 1964. This legal status has kept the landscape in its natural state for decades.
The Kootenai people historically hunted mountain goats in these mountains and gathered medicinal plants at higher elevations during their seasonal journeys. This heritage remains an important part of how local communities understand and relate to the land.
Visitors need to follow regulations that prohibit motorized vehicles and machinery throughout the area, and camping or fishing activities require proper permits. The rugged mountain terrain demands physical preparation and suitable gear for safe hiking.
Blackwell Glacier sits on Snowshoe Peak's north slope, one of the few remaining glaciers in the region. The water sources here rank among the purest found anywhere in the lower 48 states.
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