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Glacier View Wilderness Area |
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Introduction
The United States Congress designated the Glacier View Wilderness in
1984 and it now has a total of 3,073 acres. All of this wilderness is located
in Washington and is managed by the Forest Service. The Glacier View Wilderness
is bordered by the Mount Rainier Wilderness to the east.
Description
For an extravagant look at the glacier-covered west side of Mount Rainier,
hike to the top of 5,450-foot Glacier View in the northwest corner of this
Wilderness, which, coincidentally, shares a portion of the western boundary
of Mount Rainier National Park. The annual snowfall can exceed 25 feet, and
the snow melt here tumbles down eventually into the South Puyallup River,
filling nine small alpine lakes in a rich meadow basin hidden by long
ridges on both sides. Some of these lakes dry up in summer. You'll find
cold water in Goat Lake, Lake West, and Lake Christine year-round. The
forest cover is heavy with fir, pine, hemlock, and cedar, and thick with
an under story of ferns, mosses, beadlily, trillium, and other sweet wildflowers.
Elk and mountain goats graze the basin in the summer.
The 1.8-mile Lake Christine Trail enters near the southern end of the area
and passes Lake Christine to hook up with the Puyallup Trail, which goes 2.5
miles north and east to Goat Lake and then into the park or west to join the
2.9-mile Glacier View Trail. A side trail off the Lake Christine Trail allows
you to climb 5,475-foot Mount Beljica for another breathtaking view. The Glacier
View Trail continues north, with side trails to Glacier View itself and Lake
West, and proceeds to Lake Helen, which is outside the Wilderness boundary.
The 3,000-acre Glacier View Wilderness is located on the west boundary
of Mt. Rainier national Park. The topography allows a
high degree of isolation, and the scenic views are outstanding.
As the name implies, the Glacier View Wilderness some
spectacular views of the glaciated slopes of Mount
Rainier which lies to the east. The most popular view
points are from Mt. Belijica (5,476 feet) and Glacier
View Point (5,507 feet). Glacier View Point is the former
site of a fire lookout built in 1934.
Permits
Remember, Wilderness Permits are required when you enter any wilderness area in the Gifford Pinchot National Forest.
Click Here for more information.
Rules
Click Here for PDF on Restrictions
Gifford Pinchot
Oh, by the way, who was Gifford Pinchot?
Click Here for more information.
(Courtesy of the USFS)
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