|jJJ^«- In the Open— The National Forests of Washington 



RAINIE.R NATIONAL FOREST 



RAINIER NATIONAL FOREST extends from the White River on the north 

 to IMount Adams at the south, and from the headwaters of the Skook- 

 umchuck R.iver on the west to the lower reaches of the Naches River on 

 the east. Mount Rainier National Park is entirely surrounded by the Rainier 

 National Forest. 



The larger streams of the Forest are the White, Cowlitz, Cispus, and Tieton 

 Rivers, and the Naches and its tributaries. The main divide of the Cascades sep- 

 arates the Forest into two parts quite different in climate, landscape, and forest 

 cover. Dense forests of iir, cedar, and hemlock cover the valleys and lower foothills 

 of the west side and traveling is limited to the trails. There is little forage except 

 on the summit of the higher ridges. On the east slope the timber is open and there 

 are few localities where grass is not abundant. 



The Cascade divide extends north and south through the Forest, reaching an 

 elevation of 12,307 feet in Mount Adams and 8,201 feet at the Goat Rocks. The 

 general elevation of the summit is about 5,000 feet. It is a subalpine region and 

 includes many open parks and grassy meadows, where there is pasturage for saddle 

 and pack animals. 



Many of the forest streams are well supplied with cut-throat and rainbow 

 trout. The Dolly Varden is common, except in the smaller streams. It is much 

 inferior in flavor to the other trout species. Great numbers of trout are caught in 

 Packwood Lake and the Green Water Lakes. The best trout streams are the 

 Naches, the South Fork of the Tieton, and upper Bumping River on the east slope 

 and the tributaries of the Cispus and Cowlitz on the west slope. A fair catch can 

 be made in nearly all the streams, but the best fishing is in those most remote and 

 least accessible. 



Deer are abundant, but not easily seen or hunted except in sparsely timbered 

 areas of high elevation. Elk, which have been introduced, are rapidly increasing 

 under the protection of the game laws. Black bear are abundant, and mountain 

 goats are occasionally seen. The pheasant and the grouse (or "hooter") are the 

 most common game birds. Mountain and California quail are not uncommon, and 

 ptarmigan are occasionally seen at the higher elevations. The State game and fish 

 laws apply to National Forests, and Forest officers cooperate with the State author- 

 ities in their efforts to preserve by careful use the game resources of the State. 



