West Fork Ranger District

The West Fork Ranger Station is located 18 miles south of Darby, MT along the West Fork of the Bitterroot River. The river is a major focal point for fisherman in and out of the Bitterroot Valley. Beginning with the first insect hatch in the spring the snow-melt swollen river is swarmed upon by fisherman with boat and tackle. As the waters subside and spring blends into summer the river provides a more soothing fishing experience and time for scenic raft trips.

Although the river leads you to the district, it is the wilderness character that defines the West Fork Ranger District. More than half of the district is wilderness. It is one of the few places one can drive between two great wilderness areas.

At Magruder Crossing the road climbs high among sub-alpine larch and crosses mile after mile of wilderness landscape. As you drive this narrow winding road you can peer into the 2.3-million-acre Frank Church River of No Return Wilderness or the 1.2-million-acre Selway Bitterroot Wilderness. This road was constructed by CCC's in the 1930's and remains much the same now as it did then and provides a unique "driving" experience. There are few amenities along the way except for crystal clear mountain streams and miles of unobstructed vistas. Silence and solitude abound here.

If you follow the Selway River from Magruder Crossing the road ends at Paradise. From here you can launch a raft to float the famous Selway River, 47 miles of Class IV rated river miles. During the permit season (May 15 to July 31) only one launch is permitted per day. Permits are available through Recreation.gov.

Campgrounds on the district include Slate Creek, Alta, Rombo, Fales Flat and Sam Billings. Campsites have fire rings, picnic tables, and outhouses. Most are near to a lake, stream or hiking trail. Sam Billings is a short distance from the Boulder Creek trail a popular hiking trail that follows Boulder Creek into the Selway Bitterroot Wilderness.