Henry M. Jackson Wilderness
Senator Henry Jackson of Washington was instrumental in the designation of many of the state's Wildernesses, and this "forest" of fabled peaks recalls his efforts. Straddling more than 30 miles of the craggy north-south trending crest of the Cascade Mountains, with deep glacial valleys spreading out east and west from the crest, this Wilderness is perhaps most distinctive in its northwest section. Here you will find terrain reminiscent of the Swiss Alps: glacial basins surrounded by raggedy ridgelines supporting sharp spires and imposing rock towers, attractions to many mountain climbers.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Washington |
| Size | 102,919 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 47.93° N, 121.22° 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 5 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
28 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 171 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| PCT: Wenatchee River North ↗ | 36.1 | |
| Bald Eagle ↗ | 13.4 | |
| Quartz Creek ↗ | 11.4 | |
| Pilot Ridge ↗ | 11 | |
| North Fork Skykomish ↗ | 9.1 | |
| Meadow Creek ↗ | 8.1 | |
| West Cady Ridge ↗ | 7.7 | |
| Elliot Creek ↗ | 7.2 | |
| Little Wenatchee River ↗ | 6.9 | |
| Kelley Creek ↗ | 6 |
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.
Fire nearby
- WildfireGamma Creek
19 mi from the center point · 29 acres
- WildfireKing
31 mi from the center point · 3,427 acres · 72% contained
- WildfireSisi
34 mi from the center point · 4,816 acres · 40% contained
- WildfireThree Queens
35 mi from the center point · 9,575 acres · 90% contained
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 1.3 miStevens Pass Guard Station ↗Skykomish, WA
- 1.9 miEvergreen Mountain Lookout ↗Skykomish, WA
- 8.7 miGreat Northern Depot ↗Skykomish, WA
- 8.7 miMaloney's General Store ↗Skykomish, WA
- 9.8 miLake Wenatchee Residence No. 1200 ↗Leavenworth, WA
- 11.1 miRed Men Hall ↗Index, WA
- 11.2 miBush House ↗Index, WA
- 11.2 miBaring Bridge ↗Baring, WA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Washington
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Henry M. Jackson Wilderness?
102,919 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Henry M. Jackson Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Henry M. Jackson Wilderness in?
Washington.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Henry M. Jackson Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Henry M. Jackson 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 Henry M. Jackson Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 47.926° N, 121.223° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Henry M. Jackson Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Gamma Creek at 19 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Henry M. Jackson Wilderness?
The National Register has 10 listings within 15 miles, including Stevens Pass Guard Station and Evergreen Mountain Lookout.
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.