Mann Gulch is a gulch

Gulch

A gulch is a deep V-shaped valley formed by erosion. It may contain a small stream or dry creek bed and is usually larger in size than a gully. Occasionally, sudden intense rainfall may produce flash floods in the area of the gulch....

 in the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness

Gates of the Mountains Wilderness

The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Montana. Created by an act of Congress in 1964, the wilderness is managed by Helena National Forest...

 of the upper Missouri River

Missouri River

The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...

, 24 miles (38.6 km) north-northeast of Helena, Montana

Helena, Montana

Helena is the capital city of the U.S. state of Montana and the county seat of Lewis and Clark County. The 2010 census put the population at 28,180. The local daily newspaper is the Independent Record. The Helena Brewers minor league baseball and Helena Bighorns minor league hockey team call the...

, in southeastern Lewis and Clark County

Lewis and Clark County, Montana

-National protected areas:* Flathead National Forest * Helena National Forest * Lewis and Clark National Forest * Lolo National Forest * Rocky Mountain Front Conservation Area -Demographics:...

. It is on the east side of the Missouri River

Missouri River

The Missouri River flows through the central United States, and is a tributary of the Mississippi River. It is the longest river in North America and drains the third largest area, though only the thirteenth largest by discharge. The Missouri's watershed encompasses most of the American Great...

 and approximately 9 miles (14.5 km) east of Interstate 15 (I-15), between Helena and Wolf Creek

Wolf Creek, Montana

Wolf Creek is an unincorporated community in Lewis and Clark County, Montana, United States. Wolf Creek is located along Interstate 15 north of Helena. Wolf Creek has a post office with ZIP code 59648.- In popular culture :...

. Mann Gulch is between Meriwether Canyon immediately to the south and Rescue Gulch immediately to the north, and flows into the Missouri in the canyon known as the Gates of the Mountains

Gates of the Mountains Wilderness

The Gates of the Mountains Wilderness is located in the U.S. state of Montana. Created by an act of Congress in 1964, the wilderness is managed by Helena National Forest...

. Mann Gulch is approximately 2.4 miles (3.9 km) southeast of Beartooth Mountain.

It is the site of the August 5, 1949 Mann Gulch fire

Mann Gulch fire

The Mann Gulch fire of 1949 was a wildfire in the Helena National Forest, Montana, United States, which claimed the lives of 13 firefighters including 12 smoke jumpers who were parachuted into the area to fight the fire, but were unable to control it....

 in which 13 firefighters died. The fire is the subject of Norman Maclean

Norman Maclean

Norman Fitzroy Maclean was an American author and scholar noted for his books A River Runs Through It and Other Stories and Young Men and Fire .-Biography:...

's book Young Men and Fire

Young Men and Fire

Young Men and Fire is a non-fiction book written by Norman Maclean. It is an account of Norman Maclean's research of the Mann Gulch fire of 1949 and the 13 men who died there. The fire occurred in Mann Gulch in the Gates of the Mountains Wilderness on August 5...

.