Welcome Creek Wilderness

Congress passed the Wilderness Act in 1964, and since then millions of acres have been protected. One of the least known of those protected areas is in west-central Montana – Welcome Creek Wilderness Area. This section of Lolo National Forest covers a modest 28.135 acres on the west side of Rock Creek Canyon, about 13 miles south of Interstate 90. The area features narrow valleys and steep ridges as well as elk, trout, and black bears. It’s best-known feature, however, is the swinging bridge that connects the trailhead on Rock Creek Road to the Welcome Creek Trail. Just walking across the bridge is a highlight for many.