Mount Adams Wilderness
Second in height only to Mount Rainier statewide, 12,276-foot Mount Adams looms over at least 10 impressive glaciers and a Wilderness of forested slopes and subalpine meadows. The huge volcanic bulk of...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Washington |
| Size | 47,123 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 46.2137, -121.5385 |
| Night sky | Very dark ground, a faint glow at most (Black Marble reading 20) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 15 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
3 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 2 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 1 backpacking, 1 trailhead. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 5 miTrailhead: Killen Creek ↗Trailhead
- 2 miMt. Adams Summit ↗Backpacking · Year-round
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- WildfireHigh Lava
36 mi from the center point · 2,899 acres · 60% 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
- 3 miGothen Creek Ranger Station ↗Gifford Pinchot National Forest, WA
- 7.9 miTrout Lake Tourist Club ↗Trout Lake, WA
- 14 miWhitcomb Cabin ↗Glenwood, WA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mount Adams Wilderness?
47,123 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mount Adams Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mount Adams Wilderness in?
Washington.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mount Adams Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1964.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mount Adams Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Campground: Killen Creek, 0.1 miles out. 15 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
Where are the trailheads in Mount Adams Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 2 recreation sites here, including 1 backpacking and 1 trailhead. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Mount Adams Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 46.214, -121.538. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mount Adams Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest High Lava at 36 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Mount Adams Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 20 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, very dark ground, a faint glow at most.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Mount Adams Wilderness?
3 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Gothen Creek Ranger Station and Trout Lake Tourist Club.
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.
- 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.