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Writer's pictureJere Folgert

Absaroka - Beartooth Wilderness

The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a vast and rugged mountain range located in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming. The wilderness is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the country, including towering peaks, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife.


There are over 300 hiking trails in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness. The trails range in length from a few miles to over 20 miles, and they offer a variety of scenery, from forests to meadows to high-elevation alpine areas.

Some of the most popular hiking trails in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness include:

  • Beartooth Lake Trail: This 11-mile trail leads to a beautiful alpine lake with stunning views of the surrounding mountains.

  • Granite Peak Trail: This 18-mile trail is the most challenging hike in the wilderness, but it offers the reward of reaching the highest point in Montana.

  • Highline Trail: This 10-mile trail offers stunning views of the Beartooth Mountains and the Yellowstone River Valley.

  • Storm Lake Trail: This 6-mile trail leads to a beautiful alpine lake with great fishing.

  • Sylvan Lake Trail: This 4-mile trail leads to a beautiful alpine lake with great swimming.

The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a beautiful and remote place that offers a variety of hiking trails for all levels of experience. If you are planning a hike in the wilderness, be sure to do your research and be prepared for all types of weather. The wilderness is a great place to see wildlife, but it is also important to respect the animals and their habitat.



Wilderness is a natural environment that has not been significantly modified by human activity. Wilderness areas are typically characterized by their remoteness, their lack of roads and other infrastructure, and their abundance of wildlife.

Wilderness areas provide a number of benefits to society. They are important for recreation, education, and scientific research. Wilderness areas also help to protect biodiversity and to mitigate the effects of climate change. In the United States, wilderness areas are protected by the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Wilderness Act defines wilderness as "an area where the earth and its community of life are untrammeled by man, where man himself is a visitor who does not remain."

The Wilderness Act has been credited with protecting millions of acres of wilderness in the United States. Wilderness areas are a valuable resource for society and they play an important role in protecting our planet.


The Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains are two mountain ranges located in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming. The two ranges are separated by the Beartooth Plateau, a high-elevation plateau that is home to several large lakes, including Beartooth Lake and Island Lake.


The Absaroka Range is a sub-range of the Rocky Mountains that stretches about 150 miles (240 km) across the Montana–Wyoming border, and 75 miles (120 km) at its widest. The highest peak in the range is Francs Peak, located in Wyoming at 13,153 ft (4,009 m). The Absaroka Range is composed primarily of volcanic (or extrusive) and metamorphic rock.


The Beartooth Range is a smaller mountain range that is located north of the Absaroka Range. The highest peak in the Beartooth Range is Granite Peak, located in Montana at 12,799 ft (3,901 m). The Beartooth Range is composed primarily of granitic rocks.


The Absaroka and Beartooth Mountains are both popular destinations for outdoor recreationists. The two ranges offer a variety of activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and backpacking. The two ranges are also popular destinations for mountaineers, who are drawn to the challenge of climbing the many peaks in the ranges.

The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is part of the Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem, which is one of the most biologically diverse regions in the world. The wilderness is home to a wide variety of animals, including bears, elk, deer, wolves, and mountain lions. The wilderness is also home to a variety of plant life, including wildflowers, trees, and shrubs.


The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a popular destination for outdoor recreationists. The wilderness offers a variety of activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and backpacking. The wilderness is also a popular destination for mountaineers, who are drawn to the challenge of climbing the many peaks in the range.


The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a beautiful and remote place that offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. The wilderness is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with nature.


Here are some tips for planning a trip to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness:

  • Plan your trip during the summer months, when the weather is mild and the days are long.

  • Be prepared for all types of weather, as the weather in the mountains can change quickly.

  • Bring plenty of food and water, as there are no stores or restaurants in the wilderness.

  • Let someone know your plans before you go, and carry a map and compass.

  • Be aware of the dangers of altitude sickness, and ascend slowly.

  • Respect the wilderness and leave no trace.

The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a beautiful and remote place that offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. With a little planning, you can have an unforgettable trip to this amazing mountain range.


If you are planning on hiking "The Beaten Path" from Cooke City to Alpine (near East Rosebud), be sure to purchase the TerraTopo Printed Map from Global Positions, LLC





The Absaroka Range is composed of a variety of rock types, including:

  • Volcanic rocks, such as andesite, dacite, and basalt. These rocks were formed when magma erupted from volcanoes in the Eocene epoch, about 53 to 43 million years ago.

  • Metamorphic rocks, such as gneiss, schist, and amphibolite. These rocks were formed when sedimentary rocks were subjected to heat and pressure.

  • Sedimentary rocks, such as sandstone, limestone, and shale. These rocks were formed from the remains of dead organisms and other debris.

The Absaroka Range is a beautiful and diverse mountain range with a rich geological history. The different types of rocks found in the range provide a glimpse into the Earth's past and help us to understand how the mountains were formed.


The Beartooth Range is composed primarily of granitic rocks. Granite is a type of igneous rock that is formed when magma cools and crystallizes deep within the Earth's crust. The granite in the Beartooth Range is thought to have formed about 2.7 to 4 billion years ago. In addition to granite, the Beartooth Range also contains some metamorphic rocks. Metamorphic rocks are formed when existing rocks are subjected to heat and pressure. The metamorphic rocks in the Beartooth Range are thought to have formed when the granite was subjected to heat and pressure during the formation of the Rocky Mountains. The Beartooth Range is a beautiful and rugged mountain range with a rich geological history. The different types of rocks found in the range provide a glimpse into the Earth's past and help us to understand how the mountains were formed.


The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is home to a wide variety of animals, including:

  • Mammals: black bears, grizzly bears, mountain lions, wolves, coyotes, elk, deer, moose, bighorn sheep, mountain goats, marmots, pikas, beavers, and muskrats.

  • Birds: golden eagles, bald eagles, hawks, owls, loons, ducks, geese, and songbirds.

  • Fish: trout, whitefish, and char.




The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a great place to see wildlife. The wilderness is home to a variety of habitats, including forests, meadows, and high-elevation alpine areas. This diversity of habitats provides a home for a wide variety of animals. The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a beautiful and remote place. The wilderness is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with nature. If you are planning a trip to the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness, be sure to do your research and be prepared for all types of weather. The wilderness is a great place to see wildlife, but it is also important to respect the animals and their habitat.


The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a vast and rugged mountain range located in the Rocky Mountains of Montana and Wyoming. The wilderness is home to some of the most stunning scenery in the country, including towering peaks, pristine lakes, and abundant wildlife.


The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness has a long and rich history. The first people to live in the area were the Native Americans, who hunted and gathered in the mountains for thousands of years. In the 1800s, the area was explored by European settlers, who built fur trading posts and established ranches. In the early 1900s, the area was designated as a national forest, and in 1978, it was designated as a wilderness area.


The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a popular destination for outdoor recreationists. The wilderness offers a variety of activities, including hiking, camping, fishing, and backpacking. The wilderness is also a popular destination for mountaineers, who are drawn to the challenge of climbing the many peaks in the range.


The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a beautiful and remote place that offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. The wilderness is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with nature.


Here is a more detailed history of the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness:

Pre-European Contact

The first people to live in the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness were the Native Americans. The Crow, Shoshone, and Blackfeet tribes all hunted and gathered in the mountains for thousands of years. They used the mountains for food, water, and shelter, and they also used the mountains for spiritual and religious purposes.


European Exploration

The first European to see the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness was likely Lewis and Clark, who passed through the area in 1806. However, it was not until the 1860s that the area was explored in any detail. In 1862, John Bozeman blazed a trail through the mountains that became known as the Bozeman Trail. The Bozeman Trail was used by gold miners and settlers traveling to the Montana Territory, and it led to increased conflict between the Native Americans and the U.S. Army.


National Forest

In 1905, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness was designated as a national forest. This designation protected the area from development and allowed for public recreation. The national forest was managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which built roads, campgrounds, and other facilities for recreationists.


Wilderness Area

In 1978, the Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness was designated as a wilderness area. This designation further protected the area from development and made it more difficult to access. The wilderness area is managed by the U.S. Forest Service, which still maintains some roads and campgrounds, but it does not allow for any motorized or mechanized use. The Absaroka-Beartooth Wilderness is a beautiful and remote place that offers a variety of outdoor recreation opportunities. The wilderness is a great place to escape the hustle and bustle of everyday life and connect with nature.





About

Mr. Jere Folgert is owner of GroEat Garlic Farm, Global Positions, LLC, Folgert Studios and KnowGIS.com. Jere is an award-winning map maker, GIS expert, and a successful wildlife filmmaker. He filmed and produced a nature film about the American Pikas that was a huge success and won multiple awards. At his farm, GROeat Garlic Farm, he and his family grow hardneck in Montana. His family (including their identical twin boys) plants, harvests, and provide hardneck garlic to people around our great country. He has won multiple cartographic and mapping awards including the TerraTopo Map of the Beartooth-Absaroka Wilderness. Mr. Folgert is a rare combination of a scholar, a computer specialist, and a respected visual filmmaker. His career has been shaped by diverse experiences and long hours in the field. He has been honored with awards for his work in both mapping and GIS, teaching, and wildlife films.

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