About the Area
Austin Pass Picnic Area, Mt. Baker Ranger District
The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest encompasses 1,763,364 acres on northwestern Washington. It may be considered an urban forest, accessible from major metropolitan areas (Seattle or Bellingham) in less than 45 minutes or less. The Forest extends over 140 miles along the western slopes of the Cascade Mountains from the Canadian border to Mount Rainier National Park and includes portions of Whatcom, Skagit, Snohomish, King and Pierce counties.
Nearly five million people live in Puget Sound, and with another two million people living in neighboring Vancouver, BC, the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is the most visited in the country. The Forest Supervisor's office is in Everett, Washington about an hour north of Seattle. District offices are located in Sedro-Woolley, Darrington, Skykomish and North Bend, Washington.
Darrington Ranger District
The Darrington Ranger District covers over 500,000 acres in the northern part of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. About half of this land is designated Wilderness, including Boulder River, Henry M. Jackson, and Glacier Peak Wilderness areas. For thousands of years, the Stillaguamish and Sauk-Suiattle Tribes traveled by canoe. Today, roads and trails follow river valleys.
Mt. Baker Ranger District
Mt. Baker Ranger District is the northernmost district of the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest. It is bordered by Canada to the North and North Cascades National Park to the east. The Mt. Baker Ranger District offers a diverse range of landscapes and miles of forest roads and trails.
Skykomish Ranger District
Located within an hour and a half of the Puget Sound Metropolitan area, the Skykomish Ranger District is a very active recreation area. The district is home to spectacular beauty, with over 150 high mountain lakes, rocky pinnacles, occasional glaciers, alpine meadows and heavily timbered lower slopes.
Snoqualmie Ranger District
The Snoqualmie Ranger District includes 102,000 acres of designated Wilderness the Alpine Lakes, Clearwater, and Norse Peak Wilderness areas. The Snoqualmie District has two ski areas, seven campgrounds, over 30 multi-user type trailheads, and portions of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
Forest History
The history of Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest claims a colorful past of more than a century of controversy, shifting philosophies, policies or boundaries.
Tribal Relations
The Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest is part of the traditional and accustomed use areas of tribes. As such, maintaining access to these areas vital for hunting, fishing, gathering, and other cultural practices is of the utmost importance.
Around Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest
