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Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness

General Maps Contacts Area Management Wilderness Laws


The United States Congress designated the Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness (map) in 1984 and it now has a total of 14,626 acres. All of this wilderness is located in Washington and is managed by the Forest Service. The Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness is bordered by the Stephen Mather Wilderness to the east.


Noisy Creek flows north through this Wilderness and Diobsud Creek drifts south, both bolstering a foot-entangling understory of ferns, mosses, salal, elderberry, and salmonberry, mixed with nasty devil's club along the banks. Staggeringly steep ridges rise abruptly to the northeast and southwest of the creeks, topping out at 6,234 feet on Mount Watson, which anchors the center of the area. The Wilderness shares the border of the southwest corner of North Cascades National Park, just south of Baker Lake. Deep drainages carve its forested slopes, the lower portions of which consist of old-growth fir, cedar, and hemlock. Black-tailed deer, black bears, elk, and northern spotted owls all seek refuge in the dense, shadowy forest. Some alpine meadows open the ridge tops. Annual precipitation reaches 150 inches. National forestland--roadless, primitive, and undesignated--surrounds the Wilderness to the east, west, and south. The only trail access to this wilderness is by the Anderson/Watson Lakes Trail, a wonderful 2.3 mile hike to high alpine lakes. Near the wilderness boundary, the Anderson Lakes Trail leads to a small cluster of lakes outside the wilderness. The Watson Lakes Trail continues on into wilderness and ends at Watson Lakes. Both groups of lakes offer spectacular views of local peaks and are notoriously buggy in summer.

Planning to Visit the Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness?

Leave No Trace

  1. Plan Ahead and Prepare
  2. Travel and Camp on Durable Surfaces
  3. Dispose of Waste Properly
  4. Leave What You Find
  5. Minimize Campfire Impacts
  6. Respect Wildlife
  7. Be Considerate of Other Visitors

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