The Welcome Creek Wilderness is located in the Rock Creek drainage 25 miles east of Missoula, Montana. This 28,135 acre wilderness measures, approximately, nine miles by seven miles. The ridges are steep, the valleys narrow, and numerous talus slopes are found throughout the landscape. Most of this Wilderness is heavily forested with pine, fir and larch. South-facing areas have a few open, steep, and grassy slopes that provide winter range for deer and elk. Mountain lions, moose, black bears, and the occasional grizzly bear also wander through these mountains. Welcome Creek itself flows cold and clear providing habitat for native trout. There are approximately 28 miles of trail in this Wilderness area, as well as, outstanding opportunities for solitude. There are no lakes in this Wilderness.

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Welcome Creek Wilderness.

1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
3. Dispose of Waste Properly
4. Leave What You Find
5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
6. Respect Wildlife
7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.

Rules & Regulations

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Learn more about why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.