[1][2] At 1.3 million acres (5,300 km²), it is one of the largest designated wilderness areas in the United States (14th overall, but third-largest outside Alaska).

The Frank Church-River of No Return Wilderness Area is immediately to its south, separated from it only by a dirt road (the Magruder Corridor).

Together with adjoining public land, the two wilderness areas form a five million-acre (20,000 km²) wild region.

One of the largest elk herds in the United States calls the wilderness home, and it also boasts a healthy population of bighorn sheep.

This wilderness is one of the areas being used to reintroduce wild packs of the grey wolf.