South Prince of Wales Wilderness
The southwestern corner of Prince of Wales Island, a complex network of bays and inlets, and a cluster of islands known as the Barrier Islands make up this Wilderness On Prince of Wales Island, the topography of the southern portion of the area undulates gently around numerous streams, lakes, and wetlands. In the northern portion the terrain rises abruptly to over 2,500 feet. Precipitation in excess of 100 inches per year has created a lush forest of Sitka spruce, western hemlock, Alaska yellow cedar, and western red cedar with a ground cover of shrubs and grasses. The Barrier Islands are composed of approximately 75 small islands, ranging from a few acres to over 500 acres, and many smaller rocks.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Alaska |
| Size | 86,771 acres |
| Designated | 1980, by Congress |
| Center point | 54.90° N, 132.32° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 7) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees
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
No federal campground is within ten miles of the boundary in the Campsite Atlas index. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from trails and water, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit and group-size rules.
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Reference
Questions people ask
How big is South Prince of Wales Wilderness?
86,771 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages South Prince of Wales Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is South Prince of Wales Wilderness in?
Alaska.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was South Prince of Wales Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1980.
Source: Wilderness Connect
How do I get to South Prince of Wales Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 54.901° N, 132.323° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
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.