The Cabinet Mountains Wilderness covers nearly 95,000 acres of roadless terrain in the Kootenai and Lolo national forests, beginning roughly fifteen miles north of Thompson Falls. This is serious backcountry — the Cabinet Mountains are steep and densely forested, with elevations rising above 8,700 feet at Snowshoe Peak, the highest point. Access trails leave from trailheads along State Highway 200 and Bull River Road, making Thompson Falls a practical base for day hikes or overnight trips into the lower wilderness.
The wilderness is known for its alpine lakes, several of which hold native westslope cutthroat trout and bull trout — both of which require a Montana fishing license and careful catch-and-release technique for the bull trout, which are listed as threatened. The Cabinet-Yaak region also holds one of the last grizzly bear populations in the lower 48, and black bears are common. Carry bear spray, hang your food, and treat this as actual wilderness rather than a managed trail system. The payoff is real solitude and mountain scenery that rivals anything in Glacier, with a fraction of the crowds.