Okanogan National Forest

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Jump to: navigation, search
Okanogan National Forest
IUCN category VI (protected area with sustainable use of natural resources)
View from Maple Pass.jpg
Okanogan Valley from Maple Pass
Map showing the location of Okanogan National Forest
Location in the United States
Location Okanogan County, Washington
Nearest city Omak, WA
Coordinates 48°33′06″N 120°23′06″W / 48.5517°N 120.385°W / 48.5517; -120.385Coordinates: 48°33′06″N 120°23′06″W / 48.5517°N 120.385°W / 48.5517; -120.385
Area 1,499,023 acres (6,066.33 km2)[1]
Established July 1, 1911[2]
Visitors 397,000 (in 2005)
Governing body United States Forest Service
Official website

The Okanogan National Forest is a U.S. National Forest located in Okanogan County in north-central Washington, United States.

The 1,499,013-acre (2,342.2 sq mi, or 6066.3 km²) forest is bordered on the north by Canada, on the east by Colville National Forest, on the south by the divide between the Methow and the Stehekin-Lake Chelan valleys, and on the west by North Cascades National Park. The closest significant communities are Omak and Okanogan. Managed by the Forest Service together with Wenatchee National Forest, its headquarters is in Wenatchee. There are local ranger district offices located in Tonasket and Winthrop. It is the second-largest National Forest (after the Nez Perce National Forest in Idaho) that is contained entirely within one county and largest of which in Washington.

Most of the Pasayten Wilderness (excluding its westernmost part, which lies in Mount Baker National Forest), and the northeast portion (about 63%)[3] of Lake-Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness are part of the forest, with the balance lying in Mount Baker NF.

The western part of the forest is wetter than the dry and less temperate east. The vegetation varies similarly, from the western boreal forest, to the eastern high-elevation steppe. A 1993 United States Forest Service study estimated that the extent of old growth in the Forest was 316,000 acres (128,000 ha),[4] a majority of which was Lodgepole Pine forests. Wildfires are not uncommon in the Okanogan National Forest. Notable fires include the 2006 Tripod Complex and the 2012 Okanogan Complex.

Okanogan National Forest was established on July 1, 1911 from a portion of Chelan National Forest. On July 1, 1921, the entire forest was transferred back to Chelan, but on March 23, 1955, the transfer was reverted.[5]

360° panorama near the summit of Goat Peak in Okanogan National Forest. Photographed on a September afternoon, this photo includes sweeping views of the Methow Valley and the greater Cascade Range including glaciated Silver Star Mountain. High ice clouds create sun dogs on either side of the sun. Goat Peak Lookout is prominent on the righthand side.

References [edit]

  1. ^ "Land Areas of the National Forest System". U.S. Forest Service. January 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012. 
  2. ^ Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named historic (see the help page).
  3. ^ Lake Chelan-Sawtooth Wilderness acreage breakdown, Wilderness.net
  4. ^ Bolsinger, Charles L.; Waddell, Karen L. (1993), Area of old-growth forests in California, Oregon, and Washington, United States Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Resource Bulletin PNW-RB-197 
  5. ^ Davis, Richard C. (September 29, 2005), National Forests of the United States, The Forest History Society  Unknown parameter |unused_data= ignored (help)

External links [edit]

Media related to Okanogan National Forest at Wikimedia Commons


Stub icon This Okanogan County, Washington state location article is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
This article related to a protected area in the state of Washington is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Okanogan_National_Forest&oldid=549604134"