Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness

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Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
Isolated lake in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
Isolated lake in the Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness
Location Idaho, USA

Montana, USA
Nearest city Darby, Montana
Coordinates 46°12′45″N 114°20′46″W / 46.2125, -114.34611
Area 1,340,460 acres (5,424 km²)
Established January 1, 1964
Governing body U.S. Forest Service

The Selway-Bitterroot Wilderness is a protected wilderness area in the states of Idaho and Montana, in the northwestern United States.

At 1.3 million acres (5,300 km²), it is one of the largest designated wilderness areas in the United States. It spans the Bitterroot Mountain Range, on the border between Idaho and Montana. It covers parts of Bitterroot National Forest, Clearwater National Forest, Lolo National Forest, and the Nez Perce National Forest. The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area is immediately to its south, separated only by a dirt road (the Magruder Corridor). Together with adjoining unprotected public land, the two wilderness areas form a five million acre (20,000 km²) wild region.

It is here that the Lochsa and Selway rivers join to form the Clearwater River. The land ranges in elevation from 1700 feet (520 m) on the Lochsa River to 10,157 foot (3,100 m) at Trapper Peak in the Bitterroot Mountains.

One of the largest elk herds in the United States calls the wilderness home, and it also boasts a healthy population of bighorn sheep. This wilderness is one of the areas being used to reintroduce wild packs of the grey wolf.

The high-elevation areas around the Bitterroot peaks are rugged alpine parkland. Lower areas are covered by dense coniferous forest.

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