TATOOSH WILDERNESS
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
6926 E. 4th. Plain Blvd.
Vancouver, WA 98668
(360) 750-5000
Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/gpnf/

The Tatoosh Wilderness, like Glacier View Wilderness, was added to Wilderness system by Congress in 1984 to protect and to compliment the adjacent Mt. Rainier National Park. Then in 1988 approximately 98 percent Mt. Rainier National Park was designated Wilderness by Congress.

The Tatoosh Wilderness covers 15,800 acres and is located along the southern border of Mt. Rainier National Park north of the town of Packwood. Like Glacier View Wilderness, Tatoosh affords spectacular views of Mt. Rainier. This 15,800 acre wilderness is typical western Cascades ecosystem type, however, much of it is steep and rugged with subalpine and alpine areas along the ridgelines.

Tatoosh Ridge (6,310 feet) provides excellent views in all directions and is the former site of a fire lookout built in 1932. This particular lookout gained notoriety aster the book "Tatoosh" was published. The author, Martha Hardy, wrote about her experiences keeping watch at the lookout.

Tatoosh and Mt. Rainier Wilderness areas adjoin and are administered by two different agencies. Sometimes regulations are different and you are encouraged to contact the agency which administers the Wilderness you plan to visit.