South Baranof Wilderness, Federal wilderness area in Tongass National Forest, Alaska.
South Baranof Wilderness is a protected landscape spread across Baranof Island in Tongass National Forest, extending from Chatham Strait toward the Gulf of Alaska. The terrain features steep granite mountains, deep fjords, and ancient rainforest canopy that blankets the entire 319,000-acre reserve.
This wilderness area was established as a protected zone in 1980 through federal legislation safeguarding sections of Tongass National Forest. The designation ensured permanent conservation status for the landscape and its natural resources.
Three Forest Service cabins within the wilderness provide shelter near lakes, allowing visitors to experience extended stays in this remote Alaskan environment.
Reaching this wilderness requires traveling by boat or floatplane, as no road access exists to the area. A prominent peak serves as a natural landmark for navigation near the shoreline when arriving from water.
This region ranks among the wettest places in North America, receiving up to 5 meters of rain annually. This extreme moisture supports one of the densest and oldest rainforest ecosystems found at such northern latitudes.
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