Salmo-Priest Wilderness
Tucked among the Selkirk Mountains in the extreme northeastern corner of Washington, the U-shaped Salmo-Priest Wilderness extends its borders along those of Idaho and British Columbia. Its most prominent...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Washington |
| Size | 41,307 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 48.8979, -117.2176 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
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. 9 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
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Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 5 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 2 backpackings, 2 paddling accesss, 1 viewpoint. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 2 miCrater Lake ↗Viewpoint
- 4 miWatch Lake ↗Paddling access
- 5 miGypsy Lake ↗Paddling access
- 8 miShedroof Divide #512 ↗Backpacking
- 10 miSalmo Cabin #531 ↗Backpacking · Summer
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- WildfireParker Lake
27 mi from the center point · 1,531 acres · 0% contained
- WildfireUpper Smith
28 mi from the center point · 4,848 acres · 41% contained
- WildfireSilver
31 mi from the center point · 2,593 acres · 30% 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
- 3.9 miWashington Hotel ↗Metaline Falls, WA
- 4 miPend Oreille Mines and Metals Building ↗Metaline Falls, WA
- 4.1 miLarson, Lewis P., House ↗Metaline Falls, WA
- 4.1 miMetaline Falls School ↗Metaline Falls, WA
- 6.6 miUnited States Border Station ↗Metaline Falls, WA
- 8.1 miIdaho and Wash. Northern Rr Bridge ↗Metaline Falls, WA
- 11 miDonohue, Michael and Myra, House ↗Eastsound, WA
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Salmo-Priest Wilderness?
41,307 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Salmo-Priest Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Salmo-Priest Wilderness in?
Washington.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Salmo-Priest Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Salmo-Priest Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is East Sullivan, 0.1 miles out. 9 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 Salmo-Priest Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 5 recreation sites here, including 2 backpackings, 2 boating - non-motorizeds and 1 viewing scenery. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Salmo-Priest Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 48.898, -117.218. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Salmo-Priest Wilderness right now?
3 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Parker Lake at 27 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Salmo-Priest Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 10 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Salmo-Priest Wilderness?
7 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Washington Hotel and Pend Oreille Mines and Metals Building.
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.