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.

Leave No Trace

How to follow the seven standard Leave No Trace principles differs in different parts of the country (desert vs. Rocky Mountains). Click on any of the principles listed below to learn more about how they apply in the Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness.

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

For more information on Leave No Trace, Visit the Leave No Trace, Inc. website.

Management & Regulations

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Learn more about why regulations may be necessary in wilderness.