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Detailed Map
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GLACIER PEAK
WILDERNESS
Mt. Baker -Snoqualmie National Forest
21905 64th Ave. West
Mountlake Terrace, WA 98043
(206) 744-3401
Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/mbs/
Wenatchee National Forest
P.O. Box 811
Wenatchee, WA 98801
(509) 622-4335
Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/
The Glacier Peak Wilderness, created
by Congress in the 1964 Wilderness Legislation,
is isolated within portions of Chelan,
Snohomish, and Skagit Counties in the
northern Cascade Mountains of Washington
State. The area, 576,900 acres in size,
is characterized by heavily forested stream
courses, steep-sided valleys, and dramatic
glacier crowned peaks. Forest vegetation
is comprised of true firs, spruce, and
hemlock, as well as stands of pine on
its eastern slopes. Various species of
wildlife inhabit the area and include
deer, elk, bear, mountain goat, cougar,
marten, and lynx. The primary fishery
is cutthroat trout, however, other species
do exist there as well.
At 10,541 feet, Glacier Peak is the dominant geologic feature of the area. It's also the most remote of the major volcanic peaks in the Cascade Range and has more active glaciers than any other place in the lower forty-eight states. Glacier Peak is a volcanic cone of basalt, pumice, and ash (built on existing mountain ridges) which erupted during periods of heavy glaciation. Some of these were violent--comparable to the well-known Mount St. Helens eruption in 1980. Glacier Peak Wilderness features very mountainous terrain with elevations between 2,000 and 10,541 feet.
For thousands of years Native Americans traveled through this area to the meadows and peaks of the North Cascades in search of plants and game. The first white man to record seeing Glacier Peak was Daniel Linsley, surveying in 1870 for a possible railroad route for the Northern Pacific Railroad. Mining claims were filed in the Glacier Peak area during the North Cascades "gold rush" of the 1880's and 1890's. Except for the Holden Mine, just east of the Wilderness, all that remains of early day mining and trapping activities are abandoned mine shafts, rusting equipment, and a few rotting cabins.
Recreation opportunities, as well as solitude abound with more than 450 miles of trail and many places where one can enjoy cross-country travel. Because of the popularity of the area, there have been some restrictions put in place in order to protect its unique wilderness character.
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