The North Fork of the Powder River WSA encompasses 10,089 acres of public land with no state or private inholdings. The area is moderately steep, forested terrain, with pine and fir being the principle tree species. Pass Creek and the North Fork of the Powder River are rugged, scenic canyons running through the area. Falcons, hawks and eagles migrate through the area and elk winter in the North Fork Canyon.

The WSA offers outstanding opportunities to experience primitive recreation because visitors can participate in hiking, backpacking, fishing, hunting, and sightseeing. Recreational use of the major canyons will be limited for the most part to canyon bottoms. Access points into those canyons are limited; the canyons are very steep and rocky.

There is no direct public access to the North Fork Wilderness Study Area. Access is controlled by adjacent private landowners and landowner permission is required to cross any private lands.