Rugged peaks, scenic rivers and abundant wildlife define the Mt. Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest and surrounding designated wilderness areas. On a clear day visitors can see Mt. Baker, which rises to an elevation of 10,781 feet. The active volcano is perpetually snow-capped. Mt. Baker’s summit, Grant Peak, is actually a 1,300-foot-deep mound of ice, which hides a massive volcanic crater. Old-growth forests line the wide, gently-flowing South Fork Stillaguamish River, known for its salmon run. Chinook, Coho, chum, pink and sockeye salmon, steelhead trout, sea-run cutthroat and bull trout use the river and its tributaries for spawning. Undeveloped wilderness, clean streams and diverse forests provide important habitat for wildlife. Many species of mammals, birds, amphibians and reptiles make their homes in the area, which also sustains rare species such as lynx, moose, wolves and wolverine.
