 | | One of five Wilderness areas near Mount Rainier National Park, the Tatoosh shares a portion of the park's southern boundary. Tatoosh Ridge, a long, formidably rugged ridge, runs north-south out of the park to cross the Wilderness near the middle. On the eastern side of the area you'll find the southern tail end of another rocky spine, Backbone Ridge, which also hails from the park. Numerous streams cascade off the ridges into the Muddy Fork of the Cowlitz River or into Butter Creek, both of which in turn funnel down to the Cowlitz River south of the Wilderness. Deer and elk winter along the Muddy Fork, then wander into the higher country in warmer seasons. Black bears may be seen foraging in the forest of hemlock, fir, and red cedar, and mountain goats scramble along the upper elevations, which top out at 6,310-foot Tatoosh Lookout. About 25 feet of snow falls on Tatoosh Ridge during the winter, dusting a half-dozen small lakes (including three that thoroughly satisfy the meaning of "tiny"). |
| |  | | | Facilities: Tatoosh Wilderness provides camping nearby. Reservations: Reservations are not needed or accepted for Tatoosh Wilderness. Best Time To Visit: Tatoosh Wilderness is open year-round. Fees: No fees are charged. Accessibility: This wilderness is not handicap accessible. Rules: Do not litter. Directions: To reach Tatoosh Wilderness from Yakima, start out going north on South 2nd Street toward East Yakima Avenue for less than 0.1 miles. Turn left onto East Yakima Avenue for less than 0.1 miles. Turn right onto North 1st Street for 1.6 miles. North 1st Street becomes ramp for less than 0.1 miles. Merge onto US-12 West for 17.3 miles. Turn left onto US-12 for 54.2 miles. From Packwood, travel about 5 miles north, northwest. | | |
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| | | | Address | | Cowlitz Valley Ranger District-Gifford Pinchot National Forest | | 10024 US Highway 12 | | P.O. Box 670 | | Randle, Washington 98377 |
| | | Phone | | General: (360) 497-1100 | | Fax: (360) 497-1102 | | TTY: (360) 497-1101 | |
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