The wilderness visitor can view many unique biologic and geologic features in the Absaroka-Beartooths. From the mountain peaks, tundra plateaus, lakes, and basins of the high elevations to the midslopes and deep canyons and valleys below, the Absaroka-Beartooth offers scenic panoramas. The visitor may prefer the views of the ragged rock peaks and sheer rock walls that plunge to talus slopes and canyon bottoms in the Beartooths, or perhaps the Absarokas will be more appealing where the dense forests at the lower elevations contrast nicely with the many intermingled mountain meadows before giving way to alpine meadows and patches of subalpine forest. Much of the wilderness has been heavily glaciated. Rocks and other debris have been deposited along the way.
Glacial rock is strewn across many of the plateaus.
The Beartooths contain numerous peaks above the 12,000 foot level. One, Granite Peak, is the highest in Montana at a lofty 12,799 feet. Granite Peak is actually one of a series of peaks in the Beartooths that roughly join to form a semicircle. Most of the peaks are barren, steep, rocky masses. Here, only lichens, snow algae, and an occasional wildflower can survive under these harsh conditions.