Henry M. Jackson Wilderness

Senator Henry Jackson of Washington was instrumental in the designation of many of the state's wildernesses, and this forest of fabled peaks recalls his efforts. Straddling more than 30 miles of the craggy north-south trending crest of the Cascade Mountains, with deep glacial valleys spreading east and west, this Wilderness is perhaps most distinctive in its northwest section. Here the terrain is reminiscent of the Swiss Alps: glacial basins surrounded by raggedy ridgelines supporting sharp spires and imposing rock towers, an attraction to many mountain climbers. The Wilderness shares its northeast border with the huge Glacier Peak Wilderness. Snow often accumulates to a depth of 20 feet in the higher country and remains well into summer, eventually melting into the 60-plus lakes, which range from small pools to Blanca Lake's approximately 180 acres in the northwest section. A tall forest covers the lower elevations, then thins and changes in species to open into broad meadows on many ridge tops. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail winds down the high heart of the area for about 32 miles, with other trails snaking up from the east and west to join it. The Blanca Lake Trail leads 3.5 miles to Blanca Lake, and five short pathways approach the center of the northwest section before fading into bushwhacking terrain. Designated in 1984 and managed by the U.S. Forest Service.