Issue link: https://www.e-digitaleditions.com/i/1364218
e Bob Marshall Wilderness Area was established in 1941 in honor of the late Wilderness Society founder Robert Marshall, who has long been hailed as the grandfather of the wilderness preservation movement. Today, the massive trove of natural treasures encompasses over 1.5 million pristine acres of untamed Montana backcountry. Your options for places to access the wilderness area – and for deciding which sections to explore – are nearly limitless. For this year's annual trip, we chose to focus our aention on the Chinese Wall – a dramatic stretch of 1,000-foot high limestone cliffs that extend unbroken for over 12 miles. e Wall is considered by many to be the "crown jewel" of the wilderness area, and has been hailed as one of the most impressive manifestations of the entire Continental Divide. One of the simplest and most preferred gateways into the Bob Marshall Wilderness sits at the terminus of a dusty gravel road, deep in the shadow of the Rocky Mountain front west of Augusta. It takes about 90 minutes to complete the 30-mile journey from Augusta to the Benchmark trailhead. You'll quickly leave the pavement behind as you weave across the plains down Benchmark Road – which is also known as Nilan Reservoir Road – and become enveloped by the imposing but captivating grandeur of the Rocky Mountain front. Mountain-hardy cale give passersby lile more than a glance as the heavily-rued backroad twists past ranches, streams, and the glassy waters of Wood Lake. Minutes later, a clearing in the dense evergreens reveals the landing strip of the Benchmark Airport, which also serves as the last landmark- signal for the turnoff to Benchmark Campground for those looking to rest up before their trek. Camping for a single unit at the 25-site camping destination is just $6 per night. Be sure to call the Rocky Mountain Ranger District office at 1 (406) 562-3247 to make reservations. Continue driving past the campground turnoff until the road ends in order to reach the Continental Divide Trail via the West Fork of the Sun River trailhead. SiG MT 62 DAY TRIP Getting There Vast blankets of wildflowers extend as far as the eye can see. Fortunate are the few who stumble across this hidden gem.