Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness.gif)
Make sure you have the right camping gear for your Montana
fly fishing trip. Visit our Camping
Gear section for detailed product listings and shopping
information about tents,
sleeping
bags, sleeping
pads, backpacks
and other camping gear.
 The
Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area in southern Montana is
second only to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Area in both size
and wildness. The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness area spans
for more than 900,000 acres in Montana and consists of towering
mountains, hundreds of alpine lakes, hundreds of miles of
trails and lush forests. In addition, it is also part of the
Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, and as such it is home to Grizzly
Bears, Elk and numerous other wildlife. Even a bison can occasionally
be found near the wilderness areas borders with Yellowstone
National Park.
The Absaroka-Beartooth
Wilderness Area has the highest mountains, in terms of elevation,
in Montana. Additionally, the relief of the mountains (how
much the mountains rise from the valley floor) equals that
found in other mountain ranges in Montana. Looking at the
mountains from the north, the mountains rise abruptly from
the Montana prairie. From the beautiful Paradise Valley, which
the Yellowstone River flows through, the mountains dominate
and make for a beautiful sight.
The Absaroka-Beartooth
Wilderness Area is named because of the two mountain ranges
that are found in it, both of which are quite distinct. In
the eastern half of the wilderness area, near Red Lodge, lie
the Beartooth Mountains. The Beartooth Mountains are the highest
peaks in the wilderness area. Massive granite plateaus that
are found well above timberline define the Beartooth Mountains,
along with numerous small, alpine lakes. Many glaciers are
also located in the Beartooth Mountains. Hiking in the Beartooth
Mountains is very popular. Its beautiful scenery, combined
with the extensive amount of open country that lies above
timberline, creates wonderful hiking conditions both on and
off trail.
 By
contrast, the Absaroka Mountains are more forested, being
slightly lower in elevation. The Absaroka Mountains have extensive
areas of mountain and alpine lakes that are very popular for
backpackers and backcountry fishing trips. The mountains themselves
are extremely rugged and jagged and lack the broad, open plateaus
found in the Beartooth Mountains.
Due to the size
of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area and its extensive,
inter-connecting trail system, long expeditions into the wilderness
area are possible. The wilderness area is quite popular for
both backpacking and horse packing parties. While the use
of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area is fairly high and
continues to grow, the sheer size of the wilderness area and
its extensive trail network really helps spread people around.
Except for right around popular day hiking areas or trailheads,
solitude is easily found in the wilderness area.
The mountain lake
fishing in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area is some
of the finest to be found in Montana. Many of these crystal
clear lakes have excellent fishing for cutthroat trout, brook
trout, rainbow trout as well as occasionally golden trout.
Since there are literally hundreds of fishable lakes in the
wilderness area, and many other lakes that are fishless due
to winter kill, it is imperative that any person venturing
out into the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area for purposes
of fishing know whether or not the lake they are heading too
holds fish. A guidebook, called Fishing
the Beartooths, is indispensable. This book covers every
single fishable lake in this beautiful wilderness area. It
is highly recommended that any angler visiting the wilderness
area consult this book to make sure their selected lakes holds
fish.
 Access
to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness Area is excellent. Numerous
roads flank the wilderness area and in a few cases parallel
the border. A few other roads, such as south of Big Timber,
actually penetrate into the wilderness area (the boundary
is on either side of the road). All these roads allow hikers
a wide variety of places of access points and places to hike
and fish. Just be advised that many of these roads are in
only fair condition and travel quite a distance from the nearest
towns and services.
Camping in or around
the wilderness area is also excellent. Many designated campgrounds,
combined with virtually unlimited informal campsites, provide
for plenty of places for camping, whether it is for a night
or for a week. As this is Grizzly Bear country, the appropriate
precautions need to be taken to prevent midnight visitors
to your campsite.
Top
of Page
|
