Most of the area is 9,000 feet above sea level, with Cloud Peak towering highest at 13,175 feet. . Mule Deer, Elk, Black Bear, and Mountain Lion inhabit the wilderness area. Recommended travel season for the wilderness is usually from July to September. Even then, nights can be cold and storms are frequent. The wettest months are April, May and June, and severe lightning storms are common during the drier months of July, August and September.
Snow can occur in any month of the year.
The wilderness has many loop trails and some trail combinations can result in hikes lasting a week or longer. Over 70 percent of wilderness users access the area via the trailheads off US Hwy. For a more solitary wilderness experience, the Wilderness Watch Chapter strongly suggests that trips be planned using alternate routes. Registration is mandatory for when entering the wilderness. Campfires within 300 feet of lakes, streams and designated trails are prohibited and camping within 100 feet of any water is prohibited.