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WILLIAM O.
DOUGLAS 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) 662-4335
Web site http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatchee/
While significant portions of the William
O. Douglas Wilderness are high elevation forest,
the overall topography is varied. The western
peaks are characterized by high elevation
lakes in a forest setting, and the eastern
slopes drop to mid-elevation pine forest,
alpine peaks, bare ridges, and exposed basalt
tables and points. Many trails cross the William
O. Douglas Wilderness which ranges in elevation
from 3,000 to 7,000 feet. This 166,000 acre
Wilderness is located in the southern Washington
Cascade mountain crest between White Pass
(Highway 12) and Chinook Pass (Highway 410)
and east of Mt. Rainier National Park.
Portions of this area were first designated
as the "Cougar Lakes Limited Area"
in 1946, and later legislated into Wilderness
in the 1984 Washington State Wilderness Bill.
This area was named after William O. Douglas,
a distinguished U.S. Supreme Court Justice
who grew up nearby and often visited these
mountains. Douglas made his home at Goose
Prairie, adjacent to the Wilderness near the
Bumping River. He immortalized this area in
his popular book, "Of Men and Mountains."
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail,
which extends from Mexico to Canada, runs
along the 27 mile crest of this Wilderness.
Numerous trailheads offer access into the
William O. Douglas Wilderness from the White
Pass and Chinook Pass highways. The Bumping
River Basin, which is accessed off of Highway
410 provides additional trailheads, campgrounds,
and Wilderness views.
Special restrictions: No campfires are permitted
at Dewey Lake. Please camp at least 100 feet
from lakes and the Pacific Crest Trail to
protect fragile vegetation.
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