Special Places
Wilderness
Find information about Wilderness areas in the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest including: a list of wilderness areas, contact information, and wilderness permit and regulation information.
Wheelchair Accessible Trails
Learn more about accessible trails and recreation sites at Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Highlighted Areas
Boulder Cave Barrier Free Trail
Update--Boulder Cave Day Use Area closed on September 17, 2023 for the season. The 2024 reopening date has not yet been determined.
A timed-reservation system was put into place in 2023, with Recreation.gov. Reservations will need to be made in advance of your visit going forward in future summers.
NO WALK-IN ACCEPTED, MUST HAVE RESERVATION
The Boulder Cave Barrier Free Trail #962a starts at the Boulder Cave Day Use Picnic Area offering a paved surface and benches to enjoy the Naches River. The picnic table areas have asphalt surfaces that are wheelchair suitable.
See Video--Exploring the Naches
Icicle Gorge Loop Trail #1596
This scenic valley-bottom trail, which follows through old-growth timber, has easy grades along both sides of Icicle Creek. The trail is 3.9 miles long, and there are educational interpretive signs located at regular intervals along the length of the trail. Icicle Gorge Loop Trail is a designated hiker-only trail. It begins at the Icicle Gorge Trailhead, which is near Chatter Creek Campground and guard station, and passes through Rock Island Campground at about 2.0 miles.
Echo Ridge Summer Trails #1290-1291
The Echo Ridge Trail System contains over 26 miles of trails intertwined with roads. Originally designed for Nordic skiing and snowshoeing in the wintertime, hiking and mountain biking are popular activities spring through fall on Echo Ridge trails. There are wide, easy trails suitable for all ages with highly technical single track trails for the more adventurous. You will travel over open ridge tops through a young, emerging forest recovering from a 1968 wildfire. Expect to see great views of Lake Chelan, the Cascades, Okanogan Highlands and Columbia Plateau. Trail difficulty varies from “easy” trails to “most difficult,” but most trails are suitable for children. These trails are maintained annually.
See the Echo Ridge Winter Trails page for ski and snowshoe information.
E-Bikes (with full electric motor power or pedal assist) are not allowed on Echo Ridge trails or any forest trail designated non-motorized.
Camping and campfires are prohibited year round in the Echo Ridge Recreation area.
MAP of Echo Ridge Summer Trails - Hiking / Mountain Biking [PDF: 200 kb]
MAP of Best Mountain Bike Trails [PDF: 200 kb]
Get these maps on your smartphone and locate yourself on the trails! Get the App. Get the Map.
AVENZA PDF MAPS is a free mobile map application that enables you to download maps over a Wi-Fi or cellular network to read on your smartphone or tablet. Use your device’s built-in GPS to track your location on the map. The beauty is that you can access these maps and locate yourself even when you’re offline (no WiFi or Cell connection) because they’re saved to the device’s memory.
Step 1: Get free Avenza PDF Maps App at www.avenza.com/pdf-maps or through App Store on your device.
Step 2: On your smartphone or tablet, copy URL (website address):
For Mountain Bike Map:
http://www.fs.usda.gov/goto/echoridge/mtb
Open PDF Maps App and click the + or store icon to add a map. Then click into the “From the Web” field and paste the URL and click Go. The map will then be downloaded onto your device.
To see the map, click “Maps” icon at bottom of app. When you are actually in the area covered by map you will see a blue dot showing your location, even without a WiFi or cell connection.
Black Pine Lake Campground
Majestic landscape views. Boat launch, fishing, two floating docks. Interpretive accessible trail. Wildlife viewing. Picnic area for up to 12 people (Picnic area: $5 or NW Forest Pass / America the Beautiful Pass). Maximum length of site is 30 feet. Camp Hosts on site during the summer months.
Boulder Cave Trail #962
Boulder Cave Day Use Area closed on September 17, 2023 for the winter. The 2024 reopening date has not yet been determined.
New this season the site will be transitioning to a timed-reservation system through Recreation.gov. Reservations will need to be made in advance of your visit. Tickets are available for reserving 14 days. WALK-INS WILL NOT BE ALLOWED
Boulder Cave Trail #962 is a 1.5 mile round trip trail with approximately 400 feet of elevation gain beginning at the parking lot of the day use picnic area. It climbs gradually to a trail loop going to the Cave entrance. The trail meanders through a 330 foot basalt rock cave with Devil Creek flowing alongside.
Rainy Lake Trail #310
This forested trail is fully accessible. This is an easy, paved trail with no elevation gain. The trail leaves the parking lot and contours around a sidehill to reach the north end of Rainy Lake, where the trail ends at the paved picnic spot with benches. High cliffs surround the lake, with waterfalls cascading down to the lake. In the fall, the golds and reds of the changing shrubs and trees are spectacular. The walk to the lake takes only 20 minutes and is a refreshing break for those driving the North Cascades Highway. This trail gets heavy use. Visitors should be careful to stay on the trail to avoid damaging fragile areas.
Washington Pass Observation Site
Short paved fully accessible trail to a stunning view of Liberty Bell Mountain, Early Winters Spires and Kangaroo Ridge.