Wild Sky Wilderness

Wild Sky Wilderness is a 106,577-acre protected area in Washington's western Cascade Range within the Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest, north of Index and Skykomish along the North Fork Skykomish and Beckler rivers. Reaching 6,244-foot Gunn Peak and adjoining the Henry M. Jackson Wilderness, it stood out as Washington's first newly designated federal wilderness since 1984 until the Alpine Lakes Wilderness expanded in 2014. Its significance includes not only alpine country but also extensive productive low-elevation forest. After repeated congressional setbacks and issues involving private inholdings, it was finally designated through the Consolidated Natural Resources Act of 2008, with additional private parcels continuing to be added afterward.

Washington · United States