Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness

Protected wilderness area in Montana and Wyoming, United States

Absaroka–Beartooth Wilderness was created from existing National Forest lands in 1978 and is located in Montana and Wyoming, United States. The wilderness encompasses two distinct mountain ranges: the Beartooth and Absaroka ranges. These ranges are completely distinct geologically speaking, with the Absaroka composed primarily of volcanic (or extrusive) and metamorphic rock, while the Beartooth is made up almost entirely of granitic rocks. The Absaroka are noted for their dark and craggy appearance, lush and heavily forested valleys, and abundant wildlife. The highest peak in the range, in Wyoming, is Francs Peak at 13,153 feet (4009 m). The Beartooth is more alpine, with huge treeless plateaus and the highest peak of Montana (Granite Peak 12,799 feet (3901 m)). The wilderness has more than 120 peaks over and 28 peaks over 12,000 feet (3658 m), including Montana's highest, Granite Peak at The wilderness is integral to the 20 million acres (8,093,720 km2) Greater Yellowstone Ecosystem and borders Yellowstone National Park. Wilderness areas do not allow motorized or mechanical equipment, including bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, chainsaws, and game carts. The elevation ranges from 0 to ; the maximum elevation is at the Beartooth Plateau, located high in the Beartooth Mountains.

In a study of reaction of learning how large carnivores would react to the big game hunting season in Yellowstone National Park, a group of scientists found out that grizzly bear (Ursus arctos) usually stay inside the Yellowstone National Park and start moving north (into the Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness) when the hunting starts. At the same region, cougars (Puma concolor) from outside of the Yellowstone National Park tends to go inside when the hunting starts. However, wolves (Canis lupus) don't change their position as they are already spreading in the Yellowstone Nation Park area. During the hunting season, all of them are found to be hunting elk (Cervus elaphus) on the north of the Park, where Absaroka Beartooth Wilderness is.

According to the wilderness regulation, group size is limited for 15 people and 15 combined pack and saddle stock.

The widespread detection of total coliforms, Bacteroides, and E coli in the water sources of the wilderness area is leading to the question of whether it's because of the increasing human visitation. Visitors of the wilderness are encouraged to purify the water carefully before consumption. The wilderness has imposed some regulations to protect the water source, such as camping and burying human waste within 200 feet (61 m) of lake or stream is prohibited, and waste has to be buried deep.