Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Visiting the Bob
The Lewis and Clark National Forest butts up to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex.
Encompassing three designated roadless wilderness areas, “the Bob,” as it is known locally,
is a magnificent place to explore. The most famous geological landmark is a dramatic
22-mile-long escarpment known as the
Chinese Wall.
Technically referred to as the Lewis
Overthrust, the incredible rock wall—it is 1,000 feet high in places—is the result of a
massive geologic upheaval in which the state split from Glacier National Park all the way
down to Yellowstone. The Chinese Wall is where the eastern plate slid under the western
plate.
Other popular areas for hikers and backpackers include the
South Fork of the Flathead
River
valley, where most of the major trails leading into or out of the Bob can be picked up.
Big Salmon Lake
in the South Fork is among the more popular destinations. On the west-
ern edge of the wilderness complex,
Holland Lake
in the Swan Valley offers good access
for backpackers and outfitters.
The
Sun River Game Preserve,
which lies at the eastern edge of the Bob, is the only
portion of the complex where hunting is restricted. The area was established in the late
