[5] The Sleeping Giant region is a roughly rectangular area bounded by Interstate 15 on the west and Holter Lake on the east, the south boundary runs from the Hilger Valley to the Ming Bar , and the north boundary runs from the northern edge of the Oxbow Bend of Holter Lake to Interstate 15.

It is named after the "Sleeping Giant" formation (part of which is formally designated Beartooth Mountain, elevation 6,792 feet (2,070 m)), a historic and noted natural landmark contained within the proposed wilderness area.

[2][3] The Sleeping Giant study area is a critical mountain goat habitat in the state of Montana, and also contains significant populations of bald eagles, bighorn sheep, black bear, brook trout, cutthroat trout, elk, golden eagles, mule deer, osprey, and peregrine falcons.

The Sleeping Giant area also includes 7 miles (11 km) of horse riding and hiking trails, and 40 primitive camping sites at Holter Lake.

[2][3][9] The 3,801-acre (1,538 ha) Sheep Creek Wilderness Study Area is located immediately west of and adjacent to the Sleeping Giant WSA.

[11] Members of Native American tribes as far away as present-day Minnesota knew of the landmark, and told the leaders of the Lewis and Clark Expedition about it.

[2][8] In 1991, BLM estimated that about 40 percent of the Sleeping Giant WSA contained privately owned oil and natural gas mineral rights.

[13] In 2007, BLM proposed continuing to manage the Sleeping Giant region as a wilderness area, even though Congress had not yet acted on its 1991 recommendation to formally designate it as such.