re: Bob Marshall Wilderness or Black Hills/Badlands NP...where should I backpack?

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Now those are some off the beaten path recs.

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Yea that’s where us locals like to play to avoid the tourist crowds.

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I will be in CdA in August and hoping to hit up one or two of these.

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I recommend exploring Scotchman Peak Wilderness and going to the top of Scotchman Peak. Fantastic summit and the views are pretty good!

The Black Hills/Badlands are not really wilderness areas that are backpacking destinations. Beautiful, but more suitable for car camping and day hiking. And both can get pretty crowded.

The Bob Marshall Wilderness area is large and wild, great for backpacking. It can get crowded too, especially from the horseback crowd, but you can find secluded places if you work at it. You’d better be prepared to deal with grizzlies. Make sure to have bear spray, and read up on how to safely camp in grizzly country. I’d also worry about going solo in the Bob unless you have a satellite phone or InReach device. There are lots of ways to get in serious trouble in that country.

No grizzlies in the Black Hills/Badlands.

Chicken
You’ve received lots of recommendations I’ll add my two cents. I lived in Billings for eight years and as someone mentioned, you can’t go wrong in the Mountain West. There are so many options, for me there are two deciding factors:
1. GRIZ – I have an irrational fear of being part of the food chain. The stories I read about hikers and hunters made me plan my excursions where the GRIZ weren’t supposed to be. With that being said, I loved the Crazies – give me Jeremiah Johnson, the Judith, and the Musselshell. A spectacular mountain range.
2. Plan your trip to catch the Aspen turning. With their bright yellow leaves, crystal blue skies and all the meadow grasses against the evergreens, I miss the west so – Sun rises are awe inspiring in high country.

Aspen turning and high country Montana equals the possibility of snow and the elk will be squealing. Two of the eight years I bow hunted the high country I experienced heavy snow – If you are going to the Bob – be aware that the wilderness can be unforgiving when mother nature flexes her muscle.

Nodust

The range you are asking about is the Little Snowies. Lots of National Forest, a school board section, BLM land entangled with landowners. Did not spend much time in the Snowies but did take a bull in the southwest area. The drive from Billings up to Grass Range is food for the soul. Lots of access points into the National Forrest (Snowies). Eddie's Corner was a big truck stop with showers - after several days of camping in the Belks or Missouri Breaks, a warm shower was heaven.

Not trying to sound like a know it all - but the spaciousness of that area is hard to understand/imagine. When I moved to Montana from the southeast, I was invited to go on a family opening weekend deer hunt on the north shore of Fort Peck. My instructions were to go north on US 191 until I crossed the Missouri take a right and follow the signs to the camp ground. 114 miles of gravel road and I arrived or the approximate distance from Shreveport to Bastrop on gravel roads. Never leave a gas station in that country unless you have a full tank.

Apologize for the hijack

Actually, the range straight to the south of Lewistown is the Big Snowys. The Little Snowys range joins the Big Snowys southeast of Lewistown. The Big Snowys is more like true mountains, while the Little Snowys is more like foothills.

. . . he wants remoteness and solitude


(almost downvoted)

Great Basin National Park in Nevada May be the least visited national park. Also looks like great scenery.

Never heard of Jarbridge. May need to check it out.

Go to Idoho to the Frank Church Wilderness. 2.8 million acres. I used to guide in there. Extremely remote pack in only country.

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When does hunting begin in The Bob? Would rather avoid that...

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I think archery season starts September 7 this year and early rifle season starts September 14.