Indian Heaven Wilderness
Encyclopedia
Indian Heaven Wilderness is a protected area
located inside the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
of southwestern Washington state
. Originally known to the Indians as "Sahalee Tyee," the area has been and remains culturally important to Native Americans. During the past 9,000 years, the Yakima, Klickitat, Cascades, Wasco, Wishram, and Umatilla tribes gathered in this area for berry picking, fishing, and hunting.
The wilderness consists of some 20960 acres (85 km²) of forested plateau, with meadows and at least 150 small lakes, ponds, and marshes. The wilderness also contains the Indian Heaven volcanic field
. Lava once flowed from the numerous volcanic cones that rise above the plateau, which averages 4500 feet (1,371.6 m) in elevation. The wilderness' highest point is Lemei Rock (5,927 ft), whose crater now contains Lake Wapiki.
Deer and elk reside in the wilderness area until winter snows drive them lower, along with black bears attracted to the abundant ripening of fall huckleberries
.
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail passes north/south through the wilderness, which is known for its many lakes. It is also known to hikers for an intense population of mosquitoes throughout the summer. In late fall, the huckleberry bushes provide excellent berries as well as intense orange color in some years.
Protected area
Protected areas are locations which receive protection because of their recognised natural, ecological and/or cultural values. There are several kinds of protected areas, which vary by level of protection depending on the enabling laws of each country or the regulations of the international...
located inside the Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest
Gifford Pinchot National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in southern Washington, USA. With an area of 1.37 million acres , it extends 116 km along the western slopes of Cascade Range from Mount Rainier National Park to the Columbia River. It includes the 110,000 acre Mount St....
of southwestern Washington state
Washington State
Washington State may refer to:* Washington , often referred to as "Washington state" to differentiate it from Washington, D.C., the capital of the United States* Washington State University, a land-grant college in that state- See also :...
. Originally known to the Indians as "Sahalee Tyee," the area has been and remains culturally important to Native Americans. During the past 9,000 years, the Yakima, Klickitat, Cascades, Wasco, Wishram, and Umatilla tribes gathered in this area for berry picking, fishing, and hunting.
The wilderness consists of some 20960 acres (85 km²) of forested plateau, with meadows and at least 150 small lakes, ponds, and marshes. The wilderness also contains the Indian Heaven volcanic field
Indian Heaven
Indian Heaven is a polygenetic volcanic field in Washington, United States. It is located midway between Mount St. Helens and Mount Adams, and dates from the Pleistocene and Holocene. The field trends north to south and is dominated by seven small shield volcanoes that have each erupted only once. ...
. Lava once flowed from the numerous volcanic cones that rise above the plateau, which averages 4500 feet (1,371.6 m) in elevation. The wilderness' highest point is Lemei Rock (5,927 ft), whose crater now contains Lake Wapiki.
Deer and elk reside in the wilderness area until winter snows drive them lower, along with black bears attracted to the abundant ripening of fall huckleberries
Vaccinium parvifolium
Red Huckleberry is a species of Vaccinium native to the western North America, where it is common in forests from southeastern Alaska and British Columbia south through western Washington and Oregon to central California. In the Oregon Coast Range, it is the most common Vaccinium...
.
The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail passes north/south through the wilderness, which is known for its many lakes. It is also known to hikers for an intense population of mosquitoes throughout the summer. In late fall, the huckleberry bushes provide excellent berries as well as intense orange color in some years.