Roughly 60 miles south of Canada, the 88,000 acre Scotchman Peaks roadless area spans the Idaho-Montana border. Since the 1970s, when the U.S. Forest Service carried out extensive evaluations of lands suitable for wilderness, this rugged, scenic and biologically diverse portion of the Cabinet Mountains has been managed for its wilderness potential. The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness believe now is the time to preserve the Scotchmans, one of the last, and largest, wild areas in our region.

Background Facts

The Friends of Scotchman Peaks Wilderness is a volunteer driven group of concerned residents from North Idaho and Western Montana with over 2,700 supporters who believe that our region would benefit from protecting the 88,000-acre Scotchman Peaks roadless area through wilderness designation.

Ecological Benefit of Wilderness Designation for the Scotchmans:

  • Protect water quality, rare, endangered and sensitive flora and fauna (including grizzly bears, canada lynx, mountain goat, wolves, bald eagles and bull trout).
  • Additional habitats not well represented in the National Wilderness Preservation System (low elevation boreal forests and cedar/hemlock communities.)

The Scotchman Are Well Situated for Wilderness because:

  • Less than 4% of the Kootenai Forest is presently protected as wilderness;
  • No new wilderness has been designated on this forest since 1964;
  • The Kootenai has less wilderness than any other national forest in Montana;
  • There are 0 acres of designated wilderness in the five Idaho Panhandle counties.

Dispelling Myths – Wilderness Designation for the Scotchmans Does NOT:

  • Close any existing roads;
  • Limit hunting, fishing, hiking, berry picking or any non-mechanized activities (in fact it enhances these activities);
  • Impact any existing, or proposed, timber or mining jobs.

Economic Impact – What Wilderness DOES do:

  • Local communities will benefit from the unparalleled recreational and economic opportunities which wilderness provides;
  • Many studies have indicated a strong link between protected public lands and diverse, vibrant western economies;
  • We are shifting from extraction-based industries to business dependent upon natural beauty and “quality of life” which wilderness can provide.

We Have Received Resolutions of Support or Endorsements From:

Governor Schweitzer of Montana Bonner County Commissioners
City of Thompson Falls Cities of Sandpoint and Ponderay
Plains & Paradise Chamber Commerce Sandpoint Chamber of Commerce
Bonner County Daily Bee Sanders County Ledger
Sandpoint Kiwanis River Journal
Idaho Native Plant Society Libby Rod and Gun Club
Bull Lake Rod and Gun Club Montana Wildlife Federation
Montana Backcountry Horsemen Spokane Mountaineers
MT Chapter Backcountry Hunters/Anglers Federation of Western Outdoor Clubs

Click here for a Printer Friendly PDF of this page.

You can read more information on these endorsements by viewing our Endorsements page.

Related Pages: