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Wilderness: Goat Rocks
The 108,023 acre Goat Rocks Wilderness is a part of the volcanic Cascade Mountain Range in southwestern Washington located between Mt. Rainier and Mt. Adams. The Goat Rocks are remnants of a large volcano, extinct for some two million years. A portion of Goat Rocks Wilderness is within the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest.
Glaciation and erosion have worn away at the terrain here, leaving moderate summits on both sides of the crest of the Cascades. The elevation in the Goat Rocks ranges from 3,000 feet to 8,201 feet at Gilbert Peak. The deep east-west drainages below the ridges often open into park-like alpine meadows dotted with small lakes and even smaller ponds.
Annual snowfall typically equals more than 25 feet, not melting entirely until late July or early August and keeping the ponds and lakes full in the warmer months. Pikas and marmots inhabit areas above timberline, while the more reserved deer and elk have been sighted at lower elevations. Mountain goats frequent the higher elevations. Much of the 120-mile trail system stays on the ridges at or above timberline.
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 (PCT) wanders north-south through the middle of the Wilderness for 31.1 miles, past 7,930-foot Old Snowy Mountain, where glaciers persist. Approximately 14 other trails climb to eventually join the Pacific Crest Trail.
In General: Goat Rocks and PCT receive heavy hiker traffic from August to September. Thousands of people access this wilderness during peak season and people come from all over world to do so. Please always LEAVE NO TRACE Gifford Pinchot National Forest - Outdoor Safety & Ethics (usda.gov) Please always abide by Wilderness Regulations!
- Key access points: Trail and trailhead information.
At a Glance
| Current Conditions: | 3/27/24: Trail conditions are expected to be hazardous. You will encounter down trees, limbs, strong current stream crossings and other potential hazards due to snow in elevations higher than 3,000 feet. Please research your route and plan accordinly before making a trip to the Goat Rock Wilderness. Trail condition reports for each major trailhead are provided individually at Trail and trailhead information. As of this date we do not have any condition reports and most of trailheads you cannot reach due to snow and hazardous road conditions. You may find useful or current information from hiker blogs at the following websites All Trails https://www.alltrails.com or Washington Trail Association https://www.wta.org/go-hiking/hikes/snowgrass . Weather conditions can be researched at National Weather Service |
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| Permit Info: | Free Wilderness Permits at trailheads. |
| Open Season: | July - October |
| Best Season: | July, August |
| Busiest Season: | July August |
| Restrictions: |
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| Closest Towns: | Packwood, WA |
| Passes: | Some trailheads require a valid recreation pass. View our Recreation Passes and Permits page for details. |
| Information Center: |
General Information
Directions:Goat Rocks Wilderness is southeast of Packwood, WA on the crest of the Cascade Range south of U.S. Highway 12.
Trailhead/Trails that access Goat Rocks Wilderness within Gifford Pinchot National Forest:
- Trailhead: Clear Fork - access to Trail #61 Clear Fork.
- Trailhead: Bluff Lake - access to Trail #65 Bluff Lake.
- Trailhead: Three Peaks - access to Trail #69 Three Peaks.
- Trailhead: Clear Lost - access to Trail #76 Clear Lost.
- Trailhead: Packwood Lake - access to Trail #78 Packwood Lake.
- Trailhead: Lily Basin STOCK - access to Trail #86 Lily Basin.
- Trailhead: Lily Basin - access to Trail #86 Lily Basin.
- Trailhead: Glacier Lake - access to Trail #89 Glacier Lake.
- Trailhead: Angry Mountain - access to Trail #90 Angry Mountain.
- Trailhead: Jordan Creek - access to Trail #94 Jordan Creek.
- Trailhead: Berry Patch -access to Trail #95 Goat Ridge.
- Trailhead: Snowgrass for hikers -access to Trail #96 Snowgrass.
- Trailhead: Walupt Lake - access to Trail #101 Walupt Lake and Trail #98 Nannie Ridge.
- Trailhead: Coleman Weedpatch - access to Trail #121 Coleman Weedpatch.
- Trailhead: Midway Pacific Crest - access to Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 southeast of Goat Rocks.
Topo Maps
Hamilton Buttes, Jennies Butte, Ohanapecosh Hotsprings, Old Snowy Mountain, Packwood Lake, Pinegress Ridge, Spiral Butte, Walupt Lake, White Pass.
Download free U.S. Forest Service Topo maps.
Buy maps online
Go to the maps page to download or order maps. You can also purchase the maps in person at Gifford Pinchot National Forest offices.
Wilderness.net
Go to Wilderness.net for online maps and other important Wilderness information.
General Notes:
Other Trails within Goat Rocks Wilderness within Gifford Pinchot National Forest:
- Trail #79 Coyote - access from Trail #78 Packwood Lake.
- Trail #81 Upper Lake Creek - access from Trail #78 Packwood Lake.
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Trail #97 Bypass - This trail connects the Snowgrass Trail #96 and the Pacific Crest Trail #2000.
See also: Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, Goat Rocks Wilderness information.