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 the mountain takes up a considerable portion of the Wilderness and rises to its only peak. As many as 25 climbing routes, from nontechnical to technically challenging, provide access to this very popular summit. Elevation gain is approximately 7,000 feet. Approaching the mountain from the south you will find relatively gentle terrain, a nice contrast for hikers in comparison to the treacherous ice and sharp ridges on the west and the treacherous ice and vertical cliffs on the east. The glaciated north face is less imposing.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Washington |
| Size | 47,123 acres |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 46.21° N, 121.54° W |
| 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.
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 15 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
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.
Trails
17 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 207 miles in all. The 10 longest are listed here.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| PCT: Gifford Pinchot ↗ | 151 | |
| Round the Mountain ↗ | 7.6 | |
| Highline ↗ | 5.7 | |
| Snipes Mountain ↗ | 5.4 | |
| Muddy Meadows ↗ | 4.9 | |
| Riley Camp ↗ | 4.7 | |
| Stagman Ridge | 4.1 | |
| Salt Creek | 3.9 | |
| South Climb | 3.4 | |
| Killen Creek | 3.3 |
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
- PrescribedSpud Piles Rx - North
10 mi from the center point
- PrescribedNatural Bridges Pile Rx - South
19 mi from the center point · 155 acres
- PrescribedCrazy Piles Rx - South
19 mi from the center point
- PrescribedRed Top Piles Rx - South
22 mi from the center point · 42 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
- 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.
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 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?
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 Mount Adams Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 46.214° N, 121.538° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mount Adams Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Spud Piles Rx - North at 10 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Mount Adams Wilderness?
The National Register has 3 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.
- 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.