The Cabinet Mountains Wilderness, at 94,360 acres, is a mountainous, rugged terrain runs north/south through the center of the Forest. High mountain peaks, notably Snowshoe, A Peak, and others ranging from 7,618 feet to 8,738 feet, provide a scenic backdrop for Libby and the surrounding area. More than 20 trails leading into the Wilderness give access to dozens of small lakes, ridgetop panoramas, and alpine meadows.

The Kootenai Falls on the Kootenai River, adjacent to U.S. Highway 2 between Libby and Troy, is a major scenic attraction. The placid river which carries water volumes ranging from 3,500 cfs to 30,000 cfs, suddenly gathers momentum, surging first through China Rapids and then over Kootenai Falls, dropping 90 feet in less than a mile. The main falls is 30 feet high. Other falls on the Forest include Yaak, West Fork Yaak, Vermillion, Little North Fork, Pinkham, Sutton, Ten Mile, Turner, Falls Creek, and Ross Creek.

There are 191 species of birds recorded within the forest; a checklist is available. Some of the more regularly occurring species include pileated, hairy, and downy woodpeckers; belted kingfisher; Bohemian and cedar waxwings; pygmy and great horned owls; common loon; many duck species; grouse; jays; hummingbirds; bluebirds, and chickadees. Bald Eagles, osprey, and Harlequin ducks can be seen seasonally.

The Forest also has a great diversity of animals that range from moose to mice. Elk, mule and whitetail deer, mountain goats, bighorn sheep, moose, black bear, mountain lion, grizzly bear, coyote, weasel, mink, wolverine, beaver, otter, porcupine, skunk, snowshoe hare, mountain cottontail, pika, bobcat, and lynx are a partial listing of the game and non-game species residing within the Forest boundaries.