The Rocky Mountain Forest  District covers three of the Province's physiographic regions: the Rocky Mountain Trench, the Purcell Mountains, and the Rocky Mountains.

The Rocky Mountain Trench runs diagonally from the BC/Montana border to Parson, it is a wide valley occupied by the southerly flowing Kootenay River and the northerly flowing Columbia.  The marshes adjacent to the Kottenay River and the Columbia River provide prime habitat for waterfowl suing the Pacific Flyway, while the benchlands above the marshes, in addition to providing wildlife winter range, are used for grazing, farming and forest management activities.

The climate of the Trench is dry and temperate. Although the winters are cool, temperatures are warm from May to September, and warmest during July and August.

The rugged Purcell Mountains are t the west of the Trench. Their deeply cut side valleys are still home to the ever-changing glaciers.
The Rocky Mountains are to the east of the Trench. Their rugged peaks and valleys extend to the continental divide - BC/Alberta border.

Access to the area from the north and south is provided by Highway 95, from the northeast and southeast, by Highway 93, from the southeast along Highway 41. Vehicle access within the Rocky Mountain Forest District, outside of these main valley, highway corridors, is on gravel industrial roads and wilderness forest service roads.