Wild Olympics:

New Wilderness for Olympic National Forest
by Tim McNulty

In 1984, Congress passed the landmark Washington Wilderness Act. OPA and its supporters spearheaded a successful multi-year campaign that resulted in five new wilderness areas in Olympic National Forest. The Buckhorn, Brothers, Mount Skokomish, Wonder Mountain, and Colonel Bob Wilderness Areas protected some 89,000 of the most spectacular high country, upper watersheds, and scenic hiking destinations in the Olympic National Forest.

Lightest areas are proposed wilderness additions in Olympic National Forest.

Today, hikers take in sweeping views from Marmot Pass, explore the wild Duckabush Valley, camp beside Mildred Lakes, or pause beneath the breathtaking forests of Colonel Bob, knowing these areas are forever protected from logging, road building, or the invasion of dirt bikes and quads.

Back in 1984, clearcutting of old-growth forests and roadbuilding into steep, roadless country were at their peak in Olympic National Forest. Protection of low-elevation river valleys - and restoration of previously logged lands - were pitted against saving our most popular hiking areas. We gained important victories in the Gray Wolf and Duckabush valleys, but many vital areas were sacrificed. This was painfully true in the heavily logged western Olympics. No wilderness areas were designated between the Buckhorn Wilderness in the Dungeness watershed and Colonel Bob in the Quinault.


Dungeness River and Old Firs (Mary Morgan)


Now, more than a quarter-century later, it's time to correct that oversight. OPA in partnership with the Wild Olympics Campaign is working to preserve those areas in Olympic National Forest that remain to be protected and restore key habitat lands that have suffered earlier abuse.


View from Dirty Face Ridge (Ben Greuel)

Critical middle- and low-elevation forests that are important habitats for a suite of wildlife from redback voles to Roosevelt elk are recommended for wilderness. So are key streams and tributaries that provide important habitats for salmon and other aquatic species.

Heavily used recreation areas and popular trails are included, as are several decommissioned roads - or roads scheduled for removal - and reforested cuts. Our vision is to enhance existing protected wilderness as well as complement ongoing salmon restoration efforts by preserving key forests and watersheds that will protect rivers, streams, salmon and wildlife.

As increasing resource and recreation demands are placed on Olympic National Forest, new wilderness areas will protect what is most important.

A complete map of the Wild Olympics Campaign proposal showing wilderness, park additions, and wild and scenic river recommendations is available on the campaign's website, www.wildolympics.org.

In Olympic National Forest, proposed wilderness areas are included in the Elwha, Dungeness, Gray Wolf, Big Quilcene, Dosewallips, Duckabush, Hamma Hamma, Skokomish, Humptulips, Quinault, Queets, and Quillayute watersheds. As of this writing, some 136,000 acres of Olympic National Forest are proposed for wilderness. On these two pages are some of the highlights.

With these additions, the future ecological health and integrity of Olympic Park, Forest, and the Olympic ecosystem will be a huge step closer to reality. Please lend your support to the Wild Olympics effort. Contact your elected officials today.

Middle Dungeness from Tyler Peak (John Bridge)

Contact your Congressmen and Senators and urge them to support:

• Additional Wilderness Areas in Olympic National Forest,
• Willing-seller additions to Olympic National Park,
• Wild and Scenic River designations for Olympic rivers.

To learn more about the Wild Olympics Campaign, visit www.wildolympics.org.

Olympic National Forest Wilderness Additions

(click on image for a PDF version)

1 Elwha Foothills

The Mount Baldy and Madison Creek areas protect habitat for elk, blacktail deer and fisher. Both areas increase protections for the largest salmon restoration project in the U.S.

2 Dungeness Rainshadow

The popular Deer Ridge area will complete wilderness protection for the middle Gray Wolf watershed, including the lower Deer Ridge trail and recent Slab Camp road restoration. The Lower Gray Wolf includes the first two miles of the ever-popular trail.Three O'Clock Ridge and Upper Dungeness protect the middle Dungeness slopes and stunning old-growth forest along the upper Dungeness trail leading to the Buckhorn Wilderness.

3 Mount Townsend North

The northern ridges and trails of popular Mount Townsend are long overdue for wilderness protection. Dirty Face Ridge, Sleepy Hollow, Little Quilcene, and Silver Lake way trails offer rugged day hiking, summer wildflowers, and sweeping views — all within easy access from Puget Sound.

4 East Slope and Hood Canal

Hamilton Mountain and North Dosewallips Ridge are prominent features from Puget Sound. Jupiter Ridge offers a splendid ridgetop hike to Mount Jupiter in the Brothers Wilderness. The alpine summits of Mounts Ellinor and Washington anchor the wall of canal-front peaks. Lena Lake, tucked beneath rugged peaks, remains the most popular backpack destination in the Olympic Forest.

5 Skokomish Wilderness

Lightning Peak looms over Lake Cushman. Beyond it the South Fork Skokomish River harbors elk, salmon, and a scenic, year-round trail through one of the most splendid, but unprotected old-growth forests in the Olympics.

South Quinault Ridge (Ben Greuel)

6 Quinault Rain Forest

The Quinault valley is a last lowland stronghold for elk, salmon, and the quiet grandeur of the lowland Olympic rain forest. South Quinault Ridge forms the backdrop to Lake Quinault, and popular nature trails take visitors of all ages through groves magnificent trees. Moonlight Dome protects a more remote, bit equally stunning forest. And Sams River, once roaded and logged, is now a recovering forest and important tributary to ONP's Queets River.

7 Quillayute Watershed

No wilderness has been designated in the heavily logged Northwest corner of Olympic National Forest, but salmon still depend upon the many streams of the vast Quillayute watershed. Elk Reade protects the lower Bogachiel River just west of Olympic Park; Rugged Ridge connects the park to the remote Sitkum River to the north, and Alkee Creek is an important tributary to the salmon-rich Sol Duc River.