Salmo-Priest Wilderness

Salmo-Priest Wilderness is a protected forest area in northeastern Washington with two mountain ridges that meet at Salmo Mountain. The terrain features thick timber and open meadows spread across the interconnected ridges.

The area was protected as a Wilderness Area in 1984 to preserve its natural character. This designation shielded a large expanse of continuous forest from development and resource extraction.

Native American tribes have long depended on the rivers and streams here for food and travel routes through the mountains. The waterways remain central to how people experience and understand this land today.

Hikers can use a network of trails including the Shedroof Divide Trail that crosses both mountain ridges. The paths pass through varied terrain and require sturdy footwear and readiness for changing weather.

This area holds one of the last remaining old-growth forests in eastern Washington and provides habitat for woodland caribou, one of the rarest large mammals in the region. The caribou herds here represent some of the few surviving populations in the Northwest.

Location: Washington

Inception: 1984

Operator: United States Forest Service

GPS coordinates: 48.92780,-117.17100

Latest update: December 8, 2025 19:58