The Silvertip Fire is a lightning-caused wildfire in the Bob Marshall Wilderness, about 15 miles southeast of Spotted Bear Ranger Station. Recent reports put it at roughly 4,688 acres with 0% containment, and several trails in the area are closed for public and firefighter safety.
The fire has been reported on both sides of Silvertip Creek, with growth mainly toward Silvertip Mountain and some spotting eastward. Officials say the remote terrain makes direct firefighting difficult, and no structures are currently threatened.
The Flathead National Forest has closed multiple trails, including portions of Trails 88, 584, 103, 89, 83, 90, and 229.
Silvertip Fire Dashboard
The Bob Marshal Wilderness
The Bob Marshall Wilderness — affectionately known as “The Bob” — is one of the premier wilderness areas in the United States, located right here in northwestern Montana.
Here’s a comprehensive overview:
-
- Designated: 1964 under the Wilderness Act (originally set aside in 1940 as a primitive area)
- Size: 1,009,352 acres — the fifth-largest wilderness in the lower 48 states
- Named after: Bob Marshall (1901–1939), a forester, conservationist, and co-founder of The Wilderness Society
- Location: Straddles the Continental Divide, just south of Glacier National Park, extending 60 miles from north to south
The Bob Marshall Wilderness Complex
“The Bob” is actually part of a larger complex comprising three wilderness areas:
-
- Bob Marshall Wilderness (1964) — the oldest and largest
- Scapegoat Wilderness (1972)
- Great Bear Wilderness (1978)
Together they span more than 1.5 million acres, making it the third-largest wilderness complex in the lower 48. It stretches from Glacier National Park in the north to Rogers Pass in the south.
Landscape & Features
-
- Chinese Wall — the iconic 1,000-foot limestone escarpment stretching 12–22 miles along the Continental Divide
- Big Salmon Lake — the largest lake in the complex at 970 acres
- South Fork of the Flathead River — a designated Wild and Scenic River
- Elevations range from 4,000-foot valley floors to over 9,000 feet along the Continental Divide
- Over 1,700 miles of trail open to foot and stock use only
Wildlife
The Bob is considered by many to be the “crown jewel” of the wilderness system and contains some of the best wildlife habitat in the lower 48:
-
- One of the highest grizzly bear population densities in the U.S. outside of Alaska
- Gray wolves, lynx, wolverines
- Elk, deer, moose, mountain lions, mountain goats, bighorn sheep
Recreation
-
- No roads, no motorized equipment, no bikes — true wilderness per the Wilderness Act
- Activities: backpacking, horseback riding, hunting (in season), fishing (state license required), and river floating
- Popular trails include the Chinese Wall Trail (53 miles, multi-day), George Lake, and sections of the Continental Divide Trail
- Guided pack trips are available for those not wanting to carry heavy loads
- Town of Augusta (pop. 200) serves as a key gateway from the east
Access from Great Falls
If you happen to be in Great Falls, you’re actually closer to to “The Bob” than you might think.
You can gain access to The Bob Access through towns like Augusta (1 hour drive from the trailheads), Choteau, Bynum, Dupuyer, and Browning.
The Flathead and Lewis and Clark National Forest ranger districts manage the area.
Key contacts:
Lewis and Clark National Forest: (406) 791-7700
Flathead National Forest: (406) 758-5200
