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Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
IUCN Category Ib (Wilderness Area)
Location	Snohomish / Chelan counties, Washington, USA
Nearest city	Seattle, WANearest city: Seattle, WA
Coordinates	47°58′17″N 121°20′30″W / 47.97139°N 121.34167°W / 47.97139; -121.34167Coordinates: 47°58′17″N 121°20′30″W / 47.97139°N 121.34167°W / 47.97139; -121.34167
Area	102,673 acres (415.5 km²)
Established	1984 Established: 1984
Governing body	United States Forest Service

The Henry M. Jackson Wilderness is a U.S. Wilderness Area in Washington, United States. It was created by the 1984 Washington Wilderness Act and named after former US Senator Henry M. Jackson. It is adjacent to the southwest corner of the Glacier Peak Wilderness. This 102,673 acre (415.5 km²) area is northwest of Stevens Pass on United States Highway 2 and northeast of the town of Skykomish, Washington. While this Wilderness straddles the Cascade Mountain Range, most of it is in the Westside ecotype. The vegetation includes Western Redcedar, Douglas-fir, true firs, Engelmann Spruce, Western Hemlock, Mountain Hemlock, sub-alpine meadows, and at higher elevations, alpine meadows.

Minotaur Lake — 5,550 feet (1,690 m) — and heather benches in the south of the wilderness

The terrain is rugged, with steep slopes, and finger ridges dissected by small intermittent or permanent drainages. Streams in the northern portion of this area drain into the Sauk River, while the southern portion drains into the Skykomish River. Main features of this area include Cady Creek Ridge and Cady Creek, as well as the Beckler River's tributary the Rapid River, the true source of the South Fork Skykomish River. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail traverses the southern portion of the Wilderness. The area is rich in mining history with several acres of patented mining claims within its borders.

Cross-Cascade Indian trails paralleled the Little Wenatchee River and provided routes for later exploring parties such as the 1860 E.F. Cady party for whom Cady Pass and Cady Creek were named.

This area contains approximately 30 lakes which receive moderate fishing. One of the most popular of these lakes is Blanca Lake due to its beautiful turquoise green color.

The Wilderness lies in parts of Snoqualmie, Mount Baker, and Wenatchee National Forests. Wild Sky Wilderness is located immediately southwest of the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness.

See also

• Ecology of the North Cascades

External links

• Wilderness.net
• TopoQuest map

References

• US Forest Service Retrieved 2009-06-25