Old-school horse packing still moves hunters and gear deep into Montana's wilderness each fall. Montana rewards those who step off the pavement, and this pursuit is a case in point.

Outfitters use stock to reach camps far from the nearest road.

What sets it apart

The Bob Marshall Wilderness is prime horse-packing country. Small as it sounds, it is exactly the sort of thing that defines the experience on the ground.

Autumn packing trips coincide with the elk rut in the high country.

Why it matters

What ties it all together is a distinctly Montana balance between wildness and self-reliance. Go prepared, respect the conditions, and Montana's backcountry will give back in kind.