|
|||||||
|
Welcome!
Welcome to the Upper Valley Bulletin Board If you'd like to support this community information effort, please complete the "Support the UVBB" form and mail it in with your check!
|
Naches Ranger DistrictLocated on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountains at the southern end of the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest, the Naches Ranger District encompasses 518,982.61 acres. The District is west of Yakima with two major mountain passes intersecting it, Chinook Pass to the north and White Pass to the south. Our neighbors to the west and at the crest of the Cascades are Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Mount Rainier National Park and Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest. To the north is the Cle Elum Ranger District, the Yakama Indian Nation to the south and a mixture of private lands, Washington State Department of Fish and Wildlife and Washington State Department of Natural Resource lands to the east. There are checkerboard land ownerships on the fringes of the District to the north, east and south. The Naches Ranger District is part of the Mt. Baker/Snoqualmie National Forest, but is administered by the Okanogan-Wenatchee National Forest. You will see this on maps and perhaps some signage. After the formation of the Cascade Range, repeated lava flows and glaciations over the last few million years produced many lakes, deep canyons and unusual rock contours such as Kloochman Rock, east of Rimrock Lake and Boulder Cave on the Naches River near Whistlin’ Jack Lodge. This variety of geology and a wide difference in precipitation across the forest has led to diversity in vegetation which changes with elevation and moisture from grass and sage in the lowlands, through stands of heavy timber, to alpine meadows at the highest reaches. Areas of the Cascade crest can receive over 100 inches of rain and as much as 20 feet of snow each year. To the east an average of 10 inches annually results in near-desert conditions.
From many vistas there are spectacular views of Mount Rainier, Mount Adams and other mountain peaks. Within our boundaries are 224,503 acres of Wilderness, established by Congress to preserve the wild character of the land. The Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail winds in and out of the District on its way from Mexico to Canada. Wildlife is abundant and you might see elk, deer, black bear and mountain goats, as well as other species. Flower-filled meadows follow the receding snow, extending the season into late summer. Our Ranger district has hosted many uses over the years. Historically Native Americans hunted and fished while miners filed their claims searching for elusive minerals and fur trappers took their bounty to market. Large bands of sheep roamed the hillsides tended by solitary herders. Today, cattle and sheep use the Ranger District for summer grazing, but the wealth of water, wildlife and scenery attract mostly the recreation-minded travelers. The District offers some unique opportunities for recreation and a variety of natural resources. The historic Naches Pass Trail, for motorized users, horseback riders and hikers, traces the path that early settlers used to reach Seattle, the last stretch of their journey from back east. Boulder Cave National Recreation Trail is one of the most popular places on the District. Visitors enjoy the accessible trail along the river or hiking to the unique Boulder Cave. In the fall people come to experience white water rafting on the Tieton River. The two major highways that traverse the District are noted for the scenic quality. In 1931, the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and Dept. of Interior established the Mather Memorial Parkway (50 mile stretch of State Route 410) for its outstanding scenic and recreational values. In 1998, the Federal Highway Administration dedicated State Route 410 as an All-American Road. U.S. Highway 12 has received the designation of Scenic Byway. Interpretation and environmental education take place in the forest and in the local community. An interpretive display trailer is used at the Central Washington State Fair, Sportsmen Show and other community events. Okanogan-Wenatchee National ForestsThe 2.2 million acre Wenatchee National Forest stretches over 135 miles from upper Lake Chelan to the north and south to the Yakama Indian Reservation, 25 to 50 miles wide and extends from the Columbia “breaks” to the Cascade Crest. Elevations vary from approximately 800 feet along the eastern border to nearly 9,500 feet along the western crest. Vegetation varies from the grass-shrubs along the lower east edge of the Forest through the Ponderosa Pine Zone, Douglas-fir and true fir zones to the sparsely forested alpine zone at higher elevations. Precipitation, which comes mainly in the form of snow, varies from approximately 140 inches along the Cascade Crest to a low of 10 inches along the eastern fringes. Although scattered lightning storms pass over the Forest in the spring, Wenatchee Forest enjoys days of clear, sunny weather and summer daytime temperatures in the 80’s to 90’s with nighttime temperatures in the 40’s to 50’s. Wenatchee’s eastside weather accounts for its recreation popularity. Each year it ranks in the top 10 of 155 forests in the Nation in visitor use. The 125 developed campgrounds provide a camping capacity of nearly 12,000 sites. For more information: www.fs.fed.us/r6/wenatcheeThe Okanogan is a stunning and unique National Forest. It is one of the nicest surprises in the Pacific Northwest. There are a variety of country sites from craggy peaks to lovely meadows, to rich old growth forest and classic groves of Ponderosa Pine. It is called the Sunny Okanogan and for a good reason. Summers are hot and dry, winters are famous for brilliant clear skies and plenty of snow. The Forest has two distinct sides, east and west, referred to as the Okanogan (o-ka-na’gun) and Methow (met’-how) valleys. Each area is a unique experience in itself and together they offer a variety of things to see and do. Okanogan’s specialty is providing outdoor recreation, particularly trails and back-country. Two congressionally designated wilderness areas provide thousands of pristine acres where you can travel on your own or with one of several outfitter guides operating within the forest. There are lakes to swim in, routes and roads to explore by mountain bike and scenic drives including the North Cascades Scenic Highway, the first national scenic highway in the nation. For more information: www.fs.usda.gov/okawen.Welcome to Discover Your NorthwestSales outlet located at Naches Ranger District office, 10237 U.S. Highway 12, Naches, WA 98937, Phone: 509-653-1401, Office Hours: Monday through Friday (except on holidays) from 8:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m. (closed ½ hour for lunch) and from 12:30 p.m. - 4:30 p.m. No Permits or Passes are sold after 4:00 p.m. We’re a non-profit cooperating association dedicated to deepening public appreciation of the rich cultural history and spectacular natural beauty of the Pacific Northwest. We do this by helping public land agencies provide quality interpretive materials to the visiting public. We also help them publish interpretive books, maps, trail guides and other media. You can help support our local interpretive programs by shopping at the D.Y.N.W. sales outlet in the Naches Ranger District office. Your Purchases Make A DifferenceYour purchases help provide direct support for really worthwhile things like purchasing materials and equipment for special displays, completing interpretive projects when Forest Service funding isn’t available, publishing trail guides and other interpretive materials that help the visiting public better understand and appreciate the area, etc. The DYNW (Discover Your Northwest) Sales office in Naches carries a variety of items such as books about everything you can imagine relative to the local area, field guides, history and more, as well as maps, Smokey Bear items, stuffed animals, nature games, puzzles, postcards, t-shirts and much more. Our missionEducating for the Future: Linking People, Nature, and History through Interpretation. What we areWe’re a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation based in Seattle, Washington and licensed to operate in Oregon, Idaho, California and Montana. We belong to a special category of non-profits called “Cooperating Associations,” which was established by Congress in 1936 to operate in national parks for the purpose of assisting with the parks’ official interpretive and educational efforts. We were founded in 1974 and have steadily grown ever since. Today, cooperating associations work with all of America’s National Public Land Agencies as well as many state and local agencies. Our partnersWe are partnered with several organizations, as listed below. We help our partners operate their interpretive bookstores and work to enhance visitor appreciation by supporting a wide variety of on-site educational projects. Our partners are: Where you can reach us: For more information on services provided by the Naches Ranger Station, please contact:
Hours: 8:00 am-4:30 pm; closed for lunch noon to 12:30 pm The Naches Ranger Station foyer is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week with
Caring for the Land and Serving People |
||||||
Upper Valley Bulletin Board
|
|||||||
