Boulder River Wilderness

Towering to nearly 7,000 feet above valleys not far above sea level, the tall peaks of Whitehorse Mountain and Three Fingers are the two most prominent landmarks in this wilderness and are very visible from much of the Puget Sound area. The South Peak of Three Fingers is home to an old fire lookout. Climbers are challenged by the mixed rock and ice climbs available on the higher peaks, while wonderful rock routes are found in both the Squire and Clear Creek valleys.

Boulder River Trail is the most popular trail in the wilderness and passes through gorgeous old growth forest of Douglas Fir, western hemlock, western red cedar with even a few Sitka spruce thrown in. Just inside the wilderness on the trail popular “Feature Show Falls” drops over a 200 foot cliff directly into the Boulder River. Precipitation in the area exceeds 150 inches per year annually and combined with the steep terrain and thick brush, makes off-trail travel arduous.

Ths wilderness is inhabited with a variety of wildlife including black bears, black-tailed deer, cougar and mountain goats staking out the rocky shelves. Congress designated the Boulder River Wilderness in 1984 and it now has a total of 49,343 acres.

Help protect your wilderness by following wilderness regulations and using Leave No Trace principles.

• Key access points: Trail and trailhead information.

At a Glance