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Chinese Wall, Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex. Lewis and Clark National Forest

Difficulty

Difficult

Maps

USGS 7.5 Quadrangles: Benchmark, Pretty Prairie, Prairie Reef, Slategoat Mountain, Glenn Creek, Three Sisters, and Gates Park. USDA – One Forest Service map consisting of the Bob Marshall, Great Bear, and Scapegoat Wilderness areas in the Flathead, Helena, Lewis and Clark, and Lolo National Forests.

Length

75 miles.

Directions

Benchmark Trailhead: From Augusta, Montana on Hwy 287, go west on Ranger Station Road for about 17 miles. Turn west on Forest Road 235/Benchmark west approximately 18 miles to the Benchmark Campground and the end of the road. Follow the CDT north from here.

Sun River Trailhead: from Augusta, drive 35 miles east, take the Benchmark Road west, and turn left on the Willowcreek Road. Drive another 16 miles past the airstrip and USFS work station to the trailhead.

Closest Town

For More Information

Lewis and Clark national Forest – http://www.fs.fed.us/r1/lewisclark/ Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation – https://www.bmwf.org/

This 75-mile loop is an epic journey.  The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex of northern Montana is one of our last big, untamed places. Designated in 1964 the Bob Marshall, Scapegoat and Great Bear Wildernesses join to protect over 1.5 million acres of alpine meadows, glacial lakes, and clear mountain streams.  Mega fauna such as grizzly, wolf, and mountain lions continue to thrive in the wilds of “The Bob.” One of the many geological highlights in The Bob is the Chinese Wall, a 22-mile long and 1,000-foot-high escarpment of overthrust limestone that juts into the sky.  Hikers, along with equestrians, will have a continuous view of the scenic wall as this segment of the CDT cuts below the Divide into the eastern valleys. Contact:  Rocky Mountain Ranger District 406-466-5341.

Family Friendly Option

Families can access the Bob Marshall Wilderness on the South Fork of the Sun River Trailhead. This is the most popular trailhead into the Bob Marshall Wilderness so access is easy, the trail is well marked and there are campgrounds near the trailhead.