Colonel Bob Wilderness
Located in the southwest corner of the Olympic National Forest near Quinault Lake. Towering evergreens and an emerald carpet of mosses, ferns, lichens, and wildflowers all characterize the temperate rainforest. Annual rain fall averages over 120 inches. The terrain is otherwise steep, rising suddenly from the Quinault River to gain more than 4,000 feet in little over a mile. Marking the center of the area is 4,492-foot Colonel Bob, the second highest point in the Wilderness (after a 4,509-foot peak that has no name). Two relatively parallel ridges join near the Colonel to continue southwesterly with a ragged profile. Several creeks run off the crest of the ridge either north to meet the Quinault River or south to meet the Humptulips River.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Washington |
| Size | 11,851 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 47.49° N, 123.74° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 8) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 6 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Trails
4 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 11 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Colonel Bob ↗ | 4.8 | |
| Pete'S Creek | 2.3 | |
| Fletcher Canyon | 2.2 | |
| Colonel Bob Summit | 1.8 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.9 miLake Quinault Lodge ↗Lake Quinault, WA
- 2.3 miMickelson, Ole, Cabin ↗Quinault, WA
- 12.5 miPelton Creek Shelter ↗Port Angeles, WA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Washington
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Colonel Bob Wilderness?
11,851 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Colonel Bob Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Colonel Bob Wilderness in?
Washington.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Colonel Bob Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Colonel Bob Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Colonel Bob Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 47.489° N, 123.741° W. Olympic National Park is 19 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Which national parks are near Colonel Bob Wilderness?
Olympic National Park (19 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Colonel Bob Wilderness?
The National Register has 3 listings within 15 miles, including Lake Quinault Lodge and Mickelson, Ole, Cabin.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.