Rattlesnake Wilderness Area

The Rattlesnake National Recreation Area and Wilderness covers nearly 33,000 acres of the Lolo National Forest north of Missoula, set aside by Congress in 1980 and managed by the U.S. Forest Service. Scenic lakes, forested ridges, cliff-banded slopes, and high peaks rise toward McLeod Peak at 8,620 feet, with elk, deer, mountain goats, and grizzly bears moving through the drainage. The recreation area’s network of trails is open to hiking, trail running, horseback riding, mountain biking, and cross-country skiing.