Boulder River Wilderness
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Boulder River Wilderness
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 Waterfall on the Boulder River |
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| location | Snohomish County , Washington , USA | |
| surface | 197 km² | |
| WDPA ID | 366299 | |
| Geographical location | 48 ° 14 ′ N , 121 ° 48 ′ W | |
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| Setup date | 1984 | |
| administration | US Forest Service | |
The Boulder River Wilderness is a 197 square kilometer wilderness area within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest in the western Cascade Mountains in Washington state . The closest town is Darrington .
topography
The Boulder River Wilderness is formed by deep forests and steep ridges that reach up to the peaks of Three Fingers and Whitehorse Mountain . Altitudes range from 305 meters in the Boulder River Valley to 2088 meters above sea level at the southern summit of Three Fingers. This southern summit is also the location of an old fire observation tower. The high mountain range has almost a sawtooth profile with sharp peaks, including the Liberty , Big Bear and Whitehorse Mountains as well as Salish Peak and Buckeye Peak , all over 1700 meters high. Several steep and heavily forested ridges extend east and west from the central apex of the wilderness area.
The Boulder River , a tributary of the North Fork of the Stillaguamish River , is the area's main drain and flows approximately sixteen kilometers through the northwest section of the Boulder River Wilderness. The Long Creek Research Natural Area on the southern slope of Wiley Ridge is also protected within the boundaries of the wilderness area.
vegetation
The usual vegetation of the Boulder River Wilderness includes primary Ordinary Douglas , fir , western hemlock American and giant trees of life , as well as Oregon maple , alder , willow and devil's club . Sitka spruces can be found at the lowest elevations along the Boulder River. The Boulder River Wilderness is home to some of the last significant areas of primary forest in Washington State.
fauna
American black bear , black- tailed deer and elk inhabit the forests, while mountain goats can be seen in the rocky areas above the tree line.
hike
The Boulder River Wilderness boasts forty kilometers of hiking trails, although the central part of the area is very rugged and pathless. A short path stretches seven kilometers up the Boulder River through the jungle . Three short ways climb the summit and finally get lost there. Another trail crosses the northwest corner of the wilderness area over Squire Creek Pass and offers exceptional views of the summit.
See also
- List of US wilderness areas (on Wikipedia)
- List of primary forests (on Wikipedia)
Individual evidence
- ↑ a b Boulder River Wilderness Area - Mt.Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- ↑ a b c d Boulder River Wilderness - Wilderness.net
- ^ Greg Johnston: Hike of the Week: The wonders of water are plain to see on the Boulder River Trail . December 1, 2001. Retrieved July 12, 2015.
Web links
- Boulder River Wilderness - Mt.Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
- Boulder River Wilderness - Wilderness.net (English)
- Boulder River Wilderness, Washington - Backpacker Magazine (English)