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The Naches Ranger District is part of the Snoqualmie National Forest, but is administered by the Wenatchee National Forest. You will see this on maps and perhaps some signing. 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 Cliffdell. This variety of geology and a wide difference in precipitation across the forest has lead 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 Mt. Rainier, Mt. 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 Indians hunted and fished while miners filed their claims searching for elusive minerals and trappers took their bounty to market. Huge bands of sheep roamed the hillsides tended by solitary herders. Today, a few 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 both motorized users 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 very unique Boulder Cave. In the fall thousands of people come to experience white water rafting on the Tieton River. Both of the major highways that transverse the District are noted for their scenic quality. In 1931 the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture and Dept. of Interior established the Mather Memorial Parkway (a 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 shows, and community events. Okanogan-Wenatchee National ForestsThe 2.2 million acre Wenatchee National Forest stretches over 135 miles from upper Lake Chelan on the north to the Yakama Indian Reservation on the south, 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 frequently pass over the Forest throughout the summer, the
Wenatchee enjoys many days of clear, sunny weather and summer daytime
temperatures in the 80’s with nighttime temperatures in the
40’s to 50’s. 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 backcountry. 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.fed.us/r6/oka. Welcome to Northwest Interpretive Association “NWIA”(Sales outlet located in Naches Ranger Station, 10237 U.S. Highway 12, Naches, WA 98937, phone: 509-653-1400, Monday through Friday, 7:45am-4:30pm) We're a nonprofit 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 NWIA sales outlet in the Naches Ranger Station. 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 NIWA Sales office in Naches carries a large variety of items
such as books about everything you Our missionEducating for the Future: Linking People, Nature, and History Through Interpretation. What we areWe're a 501(c)3 nonprofit corporation based in Seattle, Washington and licensed to operate in Oregon, Idaho, California, and Montana. We belong to a special category of nonprofits 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: Naches Ranger District Caring for the Land and Serving People
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Naches Valley Chamber of Commerce |
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