Indian Heaven Wilderness
A forested plateau dominated by fir (Pacific silver, noble, subalpine) opens often into meadows with at least 150 small lakes, ponds, and marshes. Most of the larger lakes contain rainbow and brook trout. Lava once flowed from almost every knobby rise above the plateau, which averages 4,500 feet in elevation. The numerous volcanic cones reach their highest point on Lemei Rock (5,927 feet), where a broad crater now contains Lake Wapiki. A wealth of summer wildflower color corresponds with swarms of biting insects born in the ubiquitous water. Deer and elk reside here until winter snows drive them lower, along with black bears attracted to the abundant ripening of fall huckleberries.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Washington |
| Size | 20,784 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 46.00° N, 121.79° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 7) |
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 20 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.
Show 4 moreHide
8 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trails
18 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 183 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| PCT: Gifford Pinchot ↗ | 151 | |
| Lemei ↗ | 5.3 | |
| Placid Lake | 3.5 | |
| Thomas Lake | 3.5 | |
| Indian Heaven | 3.2 | |
| Indian Racetrack | 3.1 | |
| East Crater | 2.5 | |
| Lemei Lake | 1.9 | |
| Sawtooth | 1.7 | |
| Cultus Creek | 1.6 |
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
- PrescribedRed Top Piles Rx - South
5 mi from the center point · 42 acres
- PrescribedCrazy Piles Rx - South
6 mi from the center point
- PrescribedOpal Piles Rx -South
7 mi from the center point · 73 acres
- PrescribedNatural Bridges Pile Rx - South
8 mi from the center point · 155 acres
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
- 8 miTrout Lake Tourist Club ↗Trout Lake, WA
- 8.3 miGovernment Mineral Springs Guard Station ↗Mt. Adams Ranger Dist., Gifford Pinchot Nf, WA
- 10.2 miRegion Six Personnel Training Station ↗Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA
- 11.3 miGothen Creek Ranger Station ↗Gifford Pinchot National Forest, 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 Indian Heaven Wilderness?
20,784 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Indian Heaven Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Indian Heaven Wilderness in?
Washington.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Indian Heaven Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Indian Heaven 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 Indian Heaven Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 46.004° N, 121.791° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Indian Heaven Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Red Top Piles Rx - South at 5 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Indian Heaven Wilderness?
The National Register has 4 listings within 15 miles, including Trout Lake Tourist Club and Government Mineral Springs Guard Station.
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.