Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness

Noisy-Diobsud Wilderness is a protected reserve within Mount Baker-Snoqualmie National Forest containing steep ridges, deep valleys, and dense old-growth forests of fir, cedar, and hemlock trees. Mount Watson is the highest point in the area, reaching approximately 6,234 feet.

The Washington State Wilderness Act of 1984 established formal protection for this area, representing a major victory for local conservation efforts. This legislation became a turning point in safeguarding old-growth forests across the state.

The name comes from two streams that flow through the area: Noisy Creek running northward and Diobsud Creek running southward. These waterways are so integral to the landscape that they gave the entire protected region its identity.

The area is accessed primarily through the Anderson and Watson Lakes Trail, which starts from Anderson Lakes Road above Baker Lake. Visitors should prepare for challenging terrain, wet conditions, and limited facilities within the protected area.

The area receives over 150 inches of annual rainfall, creating an exceptionally lush forest floor carpeted with mosses, ferns, elderberry, salal, salmonberry, and devil's club. This wet environment produces a distinctive ecosystem rarely found elsewhere in the region.

Location: Washington

Operator: US Forest Service

GPS coordinates: 48.65560,-121.57100

Latest update: December 13, 2025 12:20