MT - Bob Marshall Wilderness Section

The Bob Marshall Wilderness Section of the CDT passes through the largest contiguous roadless area in the contiguous United States, covering over one million acres of pristine Montana wilderness. The centerpiece of this remote multi-day route is the Chinese Wall, a breathtaking 1,000-foot limestone escarpment stretching for 22 miles along the Continental Divide and considered one of the great natural wonders of the American backcountry.

The Bob, as it is affectionately known, supports thriving populations of grizzly bear, gray wolf, mountain lion, wolverine, lynx, and elk. Hikers on this section of the CDT should expect to travel multiple days without seeing another person. The trail network is generally well-maintained thanks to the Bob Marshall Wilderness Foundation, but river crossings can be dangerous during early season snowmelt. Pack strings led by outfitters are frequently encountered along the main corridors. The remoteness demands thorough trip planning, redundant navigation tools, and proper bear country protocols. This is the CDT at its most wild and quintessentially American, preserving an experience of true frontier wilderness.