Clearwater Wilderness

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Clearwater Wilderness

IUCN Category Ib - Wilderness Area

Clearwater Wilderness with a view of Mount Rainier

Clearwater Wilderness with a view of Mount Rainier

location Pierce County , Washington , USA
surface 57.44 km²
WDPA ID 367188
Geographical location 47 ° 3 '  N , 121 ° 49'  W Coordinates: 47 ° 3 '28 "  N , 121 ° 49' 27"  W
Clearwater Wilderness (Washington)
Clearwater Wilderness
Setup date 1984
administration US Forest Service
Twin Lake on Summit Lake Trail

The Clearwater Wilderness is a small, approximately 57 square kilometers extensive wilderness area in the Northern Cascade Mountains in the northern US state of Washington . It lies within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest , southeast of Tacoma in northeast Pierce County . The closest town is Buckley .

It was created in 1984 by the US Congress on the basis of the Wilderness Act , which established the National Wilderness Preservation System . Its southern limit is Mount Rainier National Park , so there are many remarkable views of Mount Rainier from the Clearwater Wilderness .

description

Bearhead Mountain , the highest point in the Clearwater Wilderness, is 1,856 m high. Below the mountain are the springs of the northward flowing Clearwater River as well as several rivers. Eight small lakes including Summit Lake are located within the wilderness area.

Primary forests of common Douglas fir , West American hemlock and giant arborvitae are protected and can be reached via hiking trails. Most of the undergrowth in the forests consists of ferns and mosses .

During the rainy season between October and May, 90 percent of the annual rainfall falls. That can be up to 7,600 mm. At higher altitudes, the snow can remain until July.

Typically, bears, deer, squirrels, skunks, raccoons, marmots, and some herds of elk are part of the fauna of the Cascade Mountains.

Hiking trails

  • The Summit Lake Trail is an easy 4 km (8 km circular route) long hiking trail that leads over 460 meters to the blue Summit Lake , from which a wonderful view of Mount Rainier is possible to the south.
  • The Clearwater Trail is a 6-mile (9.7 km) path that descends 6,000 feet to the peacefully flowing Clearwater River. The trail continues to Lily Creek and reaches the small, wooded Cedar Lake.
  • The Summit Lake and Bearhead Mountain Trail is a moderately difficult, 14 km long hiking trail that leads over 610 meters to the highest point of the wilderness area, from where wonderful views of Mount Rainier are possible from a wildflower meadow.
  • The Carbon Trail meanders south for 15.1 km to the junction with the Summit Lake Trail .

The National Wilderness Preservation System website provides a checklist for planning hikes in each wilderness area.

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ a b Clearwater Wilderness . Nature of the Northwest. Archived from the original on September 30, 2006. Info: The archive link was inserted automatically and has not yet been checked. Please check the original and archive link according to the instructions and then remove this notice. Retrieved October 21, 2006. @1@ 2Template: Webachiv / IABot / www.naturenw.org
  2. ↑ Clearwater Wilderness . National Wilderness Preservation System. Retrieved October 21, 2006.
  3. ^ Summit Lake . Hiker Bob Trail Guides. Retrieved October 21, 2006.
  4. ^ Clearwater River . Hiker Bob Trail Guides. Retrieved October 21, 2006.
  5. ↑ Summit Lake and Bear Head Mountain . Hiker Bob Trail Guides. Retrieved October 21, 2006.
  6. ^ Things to Consider When Planning a Trip to Wilderness . The National Wilderness Preservation System. Retrieved October 21, 2006.

Web links

Commons : Clearwater Wilderness  - Collection of pictures, videos and audio files