Visit Wilderness

Location

The Refuge headquarters can be reached from the west by turning off Interstate 15 at Monida (Exit 0), Montana, and driving 28 miles east over an improved dirt road. If approaching from the east, follow U.S. 20 southwest from West Yellowstone, Montana for about 17 miles to Red Rock Pass Road, just south of Henry's Lake River. Turn west onto Red Rock Pass Road. Follow this road for 30 miles (22 miles of dirt road) to reach the Refuge headquarters and visitor contact station. South Valley Road from Interstate Highway 15 to Lakeview is periodically closed during the winter and is closed throughout the winter to the east of Lakeview. North Valley and Elk lake roads are not plowed during the winter and are closed until about late-April. These roads can still be hazardous and may be impassable for passenger cars until mid-May. Please cal the Refuge staff to inquire about road conditions before proceeding on to the Refuge. Cell phone Service is spotty.

Maps

Digital and paper maps are critical tools for wilderness visitors. Online maps can help you plan and prepare for your visit ahead of time. You can also carry digital maps with you on your GPS unit or other handheld GPS device. Having a paper map with you in the backcountry, as well as solid orienteering skills, however, ensures that you can still route-find in the event that your electronic device fails.

Online Maps

• Interactive Map of the Red Rock Lakes Wilderness

• Google Earth

• Montana Wildernesses

Printed Maps

• Fetching MyTopo from Database
• USGS Store

Applicable Wilderness Law(s)

General Trip Planning Information

Physical facilities are limited and commercialism is minimized, creating a rare un-crowded do-it-yourself experience. In keeping with the wilderness spirit, visitors are free to explore the country the way wildlife see it, following in the trails and tracks of moose, elk, and deer. Outside the designated Wilderness Area there are two maintained trails to experience all that the refuge has to offer.

Recreational Opportunities

The Refuge has two campgrounds, but no camping is allowed in the Wilderness. Hiking is permitted everywhere except for a limited number of closures during periods when wildlife are most sensitive to human disturbance. Boating is limited to canoes, kayaks, rowboats, rafts and other non-mechanized vessels in designated areas during certain times of the year. Fishing is not permitted in Swan Lake, in Upper and Lower Red Rock Lakes, or in the River Marsh in between the lakes. In other parts of the Refuge, fishing regulations apply. Hunting is permitted but restricted to designated areas during certain times of the year. Please consult the Refuge for detailed information on these activities.

Want to Volunteer for Wilderness?

People who volunteer their time to steward our wilderness areas are an essential part of wilderness management. Contact the following groups to inquire about volunteer opportunities. Groups are listed alphabetically by the state(s) in which the wilderness is located.