{{Short description|Protected area}} {{Use mdy dates|date=January 2025}} {{Infobox protected area | name = Goat Rocks Wilderness | iucn_category = Ib | image = Goat Rocks Wilderness - Flickr - Joe Parks (2).jpg | image_caption = | map = USA Washington#USA | relief = 1 | map_caption = | location = Lewis / Yakima counties, Washington, USA | nearest_city = Yakima, WA | coordinates = {{coord|46|30|44|N|121|27|14|W|region:US|display=inline, title}} | area_acre = 108096 | area_ref = <ref name=wilderness.net/> | established = {{Start date and age|1964|09|03|br=y}} | visitation_num = | visitation_year = | governing_body = U.S. Forest Service | url = [http://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/giffordpinchot/recreation '''Goat Rocks Wilderness'''] }}

'''Goat Rocks Wilderness''' is a U.S. wilderness area in Washington, United States, comprising {{convert|108096 |acre}} of Okanagan–Wenatchee National Forest and Gifford Pinchot National Forest on the crest of the Cascade Range south of U.S. Highway 12. Its central feature is a number of rugged peaks, the Goat Rocks, that are named after the numerous mountain goats that live in the area.<ref name=usfs/>

Extinct for some two million years, a volcano with an elevation of {{convert|12000|ft|m}} once dominated this landscape. The eroded remnant of this volcano consists of rugged peaks that average over {{convert|7000|ft|m}} elevation. The highest point among them is Gilbert Peak, at {{convert|8184|ft|m}} with a prominence of {{convert|3664|ft|m}}. On the shaded northern slopes of the major peaks are the Packwood, McCall, Conrad, and Meade glaciers. The wilderness is drained by the North and South Forks of the Tieton, Cispus, and Cowlitz rivers and their tributaries. The lowest point in the wilderness is near Packwood Lake at 2,920 feet (890 m). {| border="0" cellpadding="1" cellspacing="0" align="left" | [[File:Oreamnos americanus 13A.JPG|left|thumb|Mountain goats above the North Fork of the Tieton River]] |- | [[File:OldSnowy 15A.JPG|left|thumb|Old Snowy Mountain]] |}

==History== The wilderness values of this area were first recognized on February 13, 1931, when approximately 44,500 acres (180&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) were dedicated by the U.S. Department of Agriculture, Forest Service, as the Goat Rocks Primitive Area. In 1935, this was expanded to 72,440 acres (293&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>). In 1940, the area was increased to 82,680 acres (335&nbsp;km<sup>2</sup>) and designated the Goat Rocks Wild Area by the Chief of the Forest Service. When Congress passed the Wilderness Act on September 3, 1964, this wild area became a wilderness, part of the National Wilderness Preservation System. Congress added additional area in 1984. Forest Service management is designated to preserve and enhance the wild character of the Wilderness while providing for public use and enjoyment.<ref name=usfs2/>

==Recreation== thumb|left|Surprise Lake thumb|right|A sign marking the edge of the Goat Rocks The Pacific Crest Trail (PCT), stretching from Canada to Mexico, passes through the Goat Rocks. The Washington State portion of this trail, formerly known as the Washington Cascade Crest Trail, was completed in 1935. In 1968, it was designated as part of the PCT by the National Trail System Act. The Yakama Indian Reservation, bordering the Goat rocks Wilderness on the southeast side, is closed to the general public except for the Pacific Crest Trail route.<ref name=usfs2/> {{Clear}}

==References== {{Include-USGov|agency=United States Fish and Wildlife Service}} {{Reflist|refs= <ref name=usfs>{{cite web |url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/giffordpinchot/recreation |work=Gifford Pinchot National Forest |title=Wilderness: Goat Rocks - Gifford Pinchot |publisher=U.S. Forest Service |access-date=March 26, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=usfs2>{{cite web |url=http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/specialplaces/?cid=fsbdev3_004987 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140713025038/http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/giffordpinchot/specialplaces/?cid=fsbdev3_004987 |url-status=dead |archive-date=July 13, 2014 |work=Gifford Pinchot National Forest |title=Goat Rocks Wilderness |publisher=U.S. Forest Service |access-date=March 26, 2015}}</ref>

<ref name=wilderness.net>{{cite web |url=http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/wildView?WID=209 |title=Goat Rocks Wilderness |work=Wilderness.net |publisher=University of Montana |access-date=March 26, 2015}}</ref> }}

==External links== {{Commons category|Goat Rocks Wilderness}} *[http://www.fs.usda.gov/r06/giffordpinchot/recreation Goat Rocks Wilderness] U.S. Forest Service *[http://www.wilderness.net/NWPS/wildView?WID=209 Goat Rocks Wilderness] Wilderness.net (The University of Montana)

{{Protected Areas of Washington}} {{Authority control}}

Category:Goat Rocks Category:Wilderness areas of Washington (state) Category:Gifford Pinchot National Forest Category:Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest Category:Protected areas of Lewis County, Washington Category:Protected areas of Yakima County, Washington Category:IUCN Category Ib Category:Protected areas established in 1964 Category:1964 establishments in Washington (state)