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Indian Heaven Wilderness is 20,600 acres of broad, rolling country, straddling
the crest of the Cascade Range with subalpine meadows and 175 small lakes. Originally
known to the Indians as "Sahalee Tyee," the area has been and is culturally
important to Native Americans. "Indian Heaven" offers visitors wildlife
and panoramic views, as well as wildflowers and huckleberries, in season.
Indian Heaven Wilderness was created in 1984 as part of the Washington Wilderness
Bill. Located between Mt. Adams and the Columbia River Gorge, Indian heaven is
situated on a high plateau with numerous open meadows, forested areas, and more
than 150 lakes. Many of the lakes are stocked to provide good fishing for anglers.
The natural scenic beauty of Indian Heaven is enhanced by several interesting
volcanic formations such as East Crater and Lake Sahalee-Tyee. Lemei Rock is the
highest point in the area, at 5,927 feet, and provides majestic views of the Cascades
and Wapiki Lake.
Snow melts away in the area about mid-July. Fall is a good time to visit, with
brilliant colors flourishing, and the mosquito season nearly over. There are nearly
42 miles of trails providing a variety of backcountry travel experiences.
Who Passed This Way?
For almost 10,000 years, Native people have been traveling to what we now know
as Indian Heaven Wilderness. Archaeological evidence and historic records tell
us the area provided a wealth of resources for Northwest Tribes.
The Sawtooth Berry Field in the northern part of Indian Heaven Wilderness is
world renown for its wealth of huckleberries. The area was burned in the late
1890's and again in the Great Fires of 1902. The fields were subsequently maintained
by later fires, which may be attributed to Native Americans whose berry-dry8ing
fires would escape. From 1902 to the mid-1920's, the area served as a famous summer
gathering place for Northwest Tribes. Much festivity, trading, and ritual surrounded
the annual huckleberry feast. The tribes would pick and dry huckleberries, race
horses, play games, make baskets, dry meat, tan hides, and fish in many lakes.
The local tribes included the Yakima, Klickitat, Wishram, Wasco, Cascade, and
Umatilla. Tribes from as far away as Montana and Wyoming also participated.
 A
council in 1932 between the Yakima Nation and the Forest Service resulted in a
handshake agreement, thereby designating part of the Sawtooth Berry Fields (east
of Road 24) as an area of exclusive use to the local Indian peoples.
The annual huckleberry harvest is still an important part of Native American
tradition. Please observe the signs reserving part of the berry fields for the
local tribes.
Huckleberry Legend
A Traditional Yakima Indian Legend
Long ago, this world was inhabited only by animals. The animals could talk
and understand each other, and they were just like we are today. One day the Creator
called everyone together and said, "There are new people coming to live on
this earth. You must make room for them by selecting new names and identities.
You have the choice of what you want to be in this new world, and I will help
you."
The animals all declared what they wanted to be in the new world. The Creator
asked each one to perform certain feats in order to qualify for their new identity.
If an animal failed to perform the feat he had to choose something else for which
he was better qualified.
Coyote, as usual, monopolized all the best choices, but each time he could
not perform the feat. First, he wanted to be the eagle, but he was unable to fly
high in the sky, and did not have the keen eyesight the eagle must have. Next,
he wanted to be the salmon, but he could not swim well enough. At last, the only
position he could qualify for was the plain old Coyote, which he is today.
Every time an animal qualified for what he wanted to be, the Creator took part
of his body and placed in the new creature. For this reason, the Indian people
respect everything that has life, be it plant, animal, or human, because they
are all part of the Creator.
When the Creator was finished with his work, he looked and say that he did
not have any berries in the mountains. The only part of his body that was left
were his eyes. So, he took his eyes and put them into the ground in the mountains.
The veins in his eyes bled into the earth and become the roots. The roots became
the plant, and the berries sprouted and became the huckleberries.
Trails of the Indian Heaven Wilderness
CHENAMUS LAKE 29A
- MILES: 0.7
- AMOUNT OF USE: Medium
- DESCRIPTION: Located in the north portion of the Indian Heaven
Wilderness, Trail #29A begins at the northeast end of Placid Lake. It proceeds
part way around the lake, then climbs south to the shallow, 4-acre Chenamus Lake.
- HIKER: EASIEST
- HORSE: EASIEST
CULTUS CREEK 108
- MILES: 1.5
- AMOUNT OF USE: Heavy
- ACCESS: Road 24 at Cultus Creek Campground and Trail #2000
- DESCRIPTION: Trail #108 is located in the east central portion
of the Indian Heaven Wilderness. The trail begins at Cultus Creek Campground and
ascends semi-open slopes to the northwest toward the summit of Bird Mountain.
The trail climbs 1,200 feet in elevation where it passes through a saddle, enters
large timber, and intersects Trail #2000.
- HIKER: EASIEST
- HORSE: EASIEST
EAST CRATER TRAIL 48
- MILES: 2.5
- AMOUNT OF USE: Heavy
- ACCESS: Road 6035 or Trail #2000
- DESCRIPTION: The East Crater Trail #48 is located in the
east central portion of Indian Heaven Wilderness. This trail is one of the main
access routes from the east into central Indian Heaven Wilderness. The trail proceeds
uphill through thickly forested areas, passing (at the far end) shallow lakes
and ponds in meadows and rolling terrain. The trail terminates on the Pacific
Crest Trail at the west end of Junction Lake.
- HIKER: MORE DIFFICULT
- HORSE: MORE DIFFICULT
ELK LAKE 176
- MILES: 0.4
- AMOUNT OF USE: Heavy
- ACCESS: Trail #2000
- DESCRIPTION: Elk Lake Trail #176 is a short segment of trail
located within Indian Heaven Wilderness. The Elk Lake Trail descends from Trail
#2000 near Bear Lake to Elk Lake.
- HIKER: EASIEST
- HORSE: EASIEST
FILLOON TRAIL 102
- MILES: 1
- AMOUNT OF USE: Medium
- ACCESS: Road 2400161 and Trail #34
- DESCRIPTION: Filloon Trail #102 is located on the east central
side of the Indian Heaven Wilderness. It is a short access between Little Goose
Campground and Lemei Trail #34. The trail proceeds south from Little Goose Campground
through heavy, second-growth timber and brush.
- HIKER: EASIEST
- HORSE: EASIEST
INDIAN HEAVEN 33
- MILES: 3.3
- AMOUNT OF USE: Heavy
- ACCESS: Road 24 or Trail #2000
- DESCRIPTION: Located in the east central portion of the Indian
Heaven Wilderness, Trail #33 climbs steeply to the southwest through heavy stands
of timber on the slopes of Bird Mountain. Once on top, the trail enters open meadows,
passes Deep and Cultus Lakes, then intersects Trail #34 and #179. The trail then
continues past Clear Lake, descending to its termination with the Pacific Crest
National Scenic Trail #2000 near Deer Lake.
- HIKER: MORE DIFFICULT
- HORSE: MORE DIFFICULT
LEMEI 34
- MILES: 5.3
- AMOUNT OF USE: Medium (Heavy use by horses)
- ACCESS: Road 24 or Trail #33
- DESCRIPTION: Located in the east central portion of the Indian
Heaven Wilderness, Trail #34 leaves Road 24 following an old skid road through
second-growth timber, ascending to the ridgeline and intersects Trail #102. Passing
Wapiki Lake Trail #34A, the trail climbs steeply to open meadow slopes, providing
excellent view of Lake Wapiki and Lemei Rock before descending to Trail #33 near
Cultus Lake.
- HIKER: MOST DIFFICULT
- HORSE: MOST DIFFICULT
LEMEI LAKE 179
- MILES: 1.9
- AMOUNT OF USE: Medium
- ACCESS: Trail #33 and Trail #2000
- DESCRIPTION: Trail #179 is located in the heart of the Indian
Heaven Wilderness. It is a trail through very open, meadow terrain. The trail
commences at Trail #33 near Clear Lake and proceeds in a southerly direction passing
Lemei Lake, terminating at Junction Lake and Trail #2000.
- HIKER: MORE DIFFICULT
- HORSE: MORE DIFFICULT
PACIFIC CREST NATIONAL SCENIC TRAIL 2000
- MILES: 50.4
- AMOUNT OF USE:
- ACCESS: State Road 14, west of the Bridge of the Gods which
crosses the Columbia River, Forest Road 60.
- DESCRIPTION: The Pacific Crest Trail travels though the Mt.
Adams Wilderness, as well as Indian Heaven Wilderness and non-wilderness terrain.
It has subalpine vegetation, fragrant meadows of wildflowers, interesting rock
formations, glacial streams, scenic vistas of the Cascades as well as timber.
- HIKER: MORE DIFFICULT
- HORSE: MORE DIFFICULT
PLACID LAKE 29
- MILES: 3.5
- AMOUNT OF USE: Heavy
- ACCESS: Road 3000420 or Trail #2000
- TRAIL PARK PASS: Yes
- DESCRIPTION: Placid Lake Trail #29 is located in the north
end of the Indian Heaven Wilderness and leaves from Road 420. It proceeds southwest
through large timber stands. At Placid Lake the trail turns left and travels 0.5
mile before intersecting with the Chenamus Lake Trail #29A. The trail then climbs
the west slopes of Bird Mountain to a high meadow area where it terminates on
the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000.
- HIKER: MORE DIFFICULT
- HORSE: MORE DIFFICULT
RACE TRACK 171
- MILES: 3.1
- AMOUNT OF USE: Heavy
- ACCESS: Road 65 to Road 6048000
- DESCRIPTION: Trail #171 is located in the southwest portion
of the Indian Heaven Wilderness. Race Track Trail #171 begins near Falls Creek
Camp on Road 65. The trail goes to the southeast through second-growth timber
and crosses Falls Creek with a natural crossing. The trail then climbs through
rocky terrain for 1 mile to a meadow area where the grade flattens; this area
is the Indian Race Track. At this point, Trail #171A leaves Trail 171 and proceeds
east for 0.5 miles connecting with the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail. Trail
#171 then climbs from Race Track to Road 6048 near the summit of Red Mountain.
- HIKER: MORE DIFFICULT
- HORSE: MORE DIFFICULT
SAWTOOTH TRAIL 107
- MILES: 2
- AMOUNT OF USE: Medium
- ACCESS: Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000.
- DESCRIPTION: It is hazardous to climb rocks at Sawtooth.
This trail is the old Pacific Crest Trail which skirts Sawtooth Mountain. From
Sawtooth Mountain, many beautiful areas can be viewed across the treetops. Trail
begins and ends on Pacific Crest Trail #2000.
- HIKER: EASIEST
- HORSE: EASIEST
SHORTCUT TRAIL 171A
- MILES: 0.5
- AMOUNT OF USE: Heavy
- ACCESS: Trail #2000 and Trail #171
- DESCRIPTION: Trail #171A is a shortcut trail that connects
Race Track Trail #171 to Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000.
- HIKER: EASIEST
- HORSE: EASIEST
THOMAS LAKE 111
- MILES: 3.3
- AMOUNT OF USE: X Heavy
- ACCESS: Road 65
- TRAIL PARK PASS: Yes
- DESCRIPTION: Thomas Lake Trail is located in the west central
portion of the Indian Heaven Wilderness. Trail #111 commences on Road 65 and goes
east through heavy timber passing a camp spot at 0.6 mile. Lakes visible at that
point are Dee, Thomas, and Heather. Eunice Lake is a short distance to the east.
The trail climbs to a meadow area and passes Lake Naha. It continues to Rock Lake
and turns south and passes Lake Umtux. Descending a slope into timber, the trail
passes Lake Sahalee Tyee and ends at Blue Lake.
- HIKER: MOST DIFFICULT
- HORSE: MOST DIFFICULT
TOMBSTONE LAKE 55
- MILES: 0.5
- AMOUNT OF USE: Medium
- ACCESS: Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 and Trail
#111
- DESCRIPTION: Tombstone Lake Trail #55 is a short segment
of trail located in the Indian Heaven Wilderness near Blue Lake. It begins at
a campsite near the east shore of Blue Lake and terminates at Tombstone Lake.
- HIKER: EASIEST
- HORSE: EASIEST
WAPIKI LAKE 34A
- MILES: 0.5
- AMOUNT OF USE: Medium
- ACCESS: Road 24 to Trail #34
- DESCRIPTION: Located in the east central portion of Indian
Heaven Wilderness, trail #34A leaves trail #34 approximately 3 miles from Road
24. The trail traverses a timbered hillside to Wapiki Lake, part of Lemei Rock's
old crater.
- HIKER: EASIEST
- HORSE: EASIEST
WOOD LAKE 185
- MILES: 0.5
- AMOUNT OF USE: Medium
- ACCESS: Trail #2000 and Trail #108
- DESCRIPTION: Trail #185 is located in the north end of the
Indian Heaven Wilderness. It is a short trail through semi-open areas, descending
from Trail #2000 to the edge of Wood Lake.
- HIKER: MORE DIFFICULT
- HORSE: MORE DIFFICULT
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