Gates of the Mountains Wilderness

Gates of the Mountains Wilderness
IUCN category Ib (wilderness area)[1]
Outcrops of massive Madison Limestone flank the Missouri River near the Gates of the Mountains canyon formation
Location in Montana Show map of Montana Location in United States Show map of the United States
Location	Lewis and Clark County, Montana, USA
Nearest city	Helena, MT
Coordinates	46°53′N 111°58′W / 46.883°N 111.967°W / 46.883; -111.967
Area	28,562 acres (115.59 km2)
Established	1964
Governing body	U.S. Forest Service

The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Montana. Created by an act of Congress in 1964, the wilderness is managed by Helena National Forest. A day use campground near the Gates of the Mountains, Meriwether Picnic site, is named in honor of Meriwether Lewis.

Gates of the Mountains Wilderness (then known as the Gates of the Mountains Wild Area) was the site of the 1949 Mann Gulch fire, which claimed the lives of 13 firefighters and which was the subject of Norman Maclean's book Young Men and Fire.

U.S. Wilderness Areas do not allow motorized or mechanized vehicles, including bicycles. Although camping and fishing are allowed with proper permit, no roads or buildings are constructed and there is also no logging or mining, in compliance with the 1964 Wilderness Act. Wilderness areas within National Forests and Bureau of Land Management areas also allow hunting in season.