Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
Visitors to the Selway-Bitterroot will find dense forests, alpine lakes, rugged rivers, and steep canyons.
The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness lies within the boundaries of four national forests and seven ranger districts. Its rugged peaks and connection to four national forests make this a popular destination for people looking to spend time in the wild. If you'd like a set of fun activities that will teach young visitors about this wilderness, download our Selway-Bitterroot Junior Ranger Program and mail it back to us or take it to a ranger station near the wilderness to earn a Junior Ranger Badge. Find out more about this and other wildernesses at Wilderness.net
General Information
Directions:
From Grangeville, Idaho travel east on State Highway 14 to the junction with Forest Road (FR) 222. Follow FR 222 to the junction of FR 468, Magruder Corridor (65 miles east of Grangeville). The Magruder Corridor was created in 1980, leaving a unique road that enables a traveler to drive between two wildernesses; the 1.2 million-acre Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness to the north, and the 2.3-million-acre Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness to the south. The east end of the Magruder Corridor is 0.8 miles south of West Fork Ranger Station (18 miles southwest of Darby, Montana). The wilderness can also be accessed from in Idaho from FR 223, Selway River Road; Wilderness Gateway Campground on State Highway 12; and FR 360, Elk Summit. Access points in Montana are Lost Horse and Lake Como.
General Notes:
Elevations range from 1800 feet on the Selway and Lochsa Rivers to 10,000 feet in the Bitterroot Mountains. Many long ranges at 5000 and 6000 feet with steep slopes. All streams drain into the Selway, Lochsa, or Bitterroot rivers. The Selway-Bitterroot is administered through management direction outlined in the Selway-Bitterroot General Management Direction, last updated in 1996.