Clearwater Wilderness

The Clearwater Wilderness is the northwestern outpost of a wilderness complex centered on Mt. Rainier National Park which includes the adjacent Norse Peak, William O. Douglas, Tatoosh, and Glacier View Wilderness areas. The Wilderness is centered on the Clearwater River, which courses north dropping from its heart through an untouched forest of huge Douglas fir, western red and Alaska cedar, and western hemlock. A rich understory of ferns, mosses, mushrooms, huckleberry, salmonberry, devil's club and other plants makes for difficult cross country travel. The thick vegetation makes wildlife difficult to spot, but deer, bear, cougar, elk and the occasional mountain goat roam the area; marmots and pikas are the most common sightings, and eagles, ravens, grouse, and a variety of songbirds provide the background soundscape. Several small, remote lakes dot the Wilderness. Most are difficult to access due to lack of trails and a limited road system to the edge of the Wilderness. The rivers and lakes are fed by abundant rain and snow arriving during the stormy winter months, the deep snow pack gradually melting by mid-July. Meadow areas of Bearhead Mountain, Celery Meadows, and the Summit Lake area explode with color as wildflowers bloom in July and August. The Clearwater and Carbon trails loop 17 miles through the Wilderness and connect with the Summit Lake Trail. Summit Lake and Bearhead Mountain are the two most popular locations, accessed by good trails from the south side, and both afford tremendous views of the north side of Mt. Rainier looming a dozen miles to the south. Hikers seek out these destinations as quieter alternatives to similar sites within the National Park. Flooding in November 2006 washed out the road which led to the Martin Gap Trailhead on the east side of the Wilderness and the Clear West Peak trail in the southeast corner. This has had a substantial effect on public access.