Resurrection

The Resurrection roadless area spans 224,615 acres across the Kenai Mountains of the Chugach National Forest, a landscape of steep ridges and deep valleys that rise from sea level to alpine summits above 6,000 feet. Langille Mountain (4,500 ft) and Gilpatrick Mountain (4,573 ft) anchor the high country, while lower passes—Resurrection Pass (2,651 ft), American Pass (2,500 ft), and Devils Pass (2,400 ft)—channel water and wildlife between drainages. The area's hydrology centers on the Upper Resurrection Creek headwaters and the Resurrection Creek system, which flows north through Gold Gulch and lower elevations, joined by Bear Creek and Palmer Creek. These waterways originate in alpine snowfields and seepage areas, carving through hemlock and spruce forests before emerging into the coastal lowlands. The constant movement of water through this terrain—from high alpine meadows to creek bottoms—shapes every ecosystem in the area.

Elevation and moisture create distinct forest communities across the landscape. At lower elevations, Alaskan Pacific Maritime Mountain Hemlock Forest dominates, with mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) and Sitka spruce (Picea sitchensis) forming a dense canopy. The understory here is thick with Devil's Club (Oplopanax horridus) and western skunk cabbage (Lysichiton americanus), plants that thrive in the wet, shaded conditions of these coves. As elevation increases, the forest transitions to Alaskan Pacific Maritime Subalpine Alder-Salmonberry Shrubland, where green alder (Alnus alnobetula) and Salmonberry (Rubus spectabilis) replace the closed forest, creating a more open, shrubby landscape. Above the shrubland, Alaska Sub-boreal and Maritime Alpine Mesic Herbaceous Meadow and Alaskan Pacific Maritime Alpine Dwarf-Shrubland occupy the ridges and high passes, where copperbush (Elliottia pyroliflora), Partridgefoot (Luetkea pectinata), and white bog orchid (Platanthera dilatata), vulnerable (IUCN), grow in low mats adapted to wind and snow. In wet alpine floodplain areas, Sitka valerian (Valeriana sitchensis) and Menzies' Burnet (Sanguisorba menziesii), vulnerable (IUCN), stabilize the ground near seepage zones and snowmelt channels.

Wildlife in the Resurrection area reflects the diversity of these habitats. Brown bears (Ursus arctos) move through all elevations, following salmon runs up Resurrection Creek and its tributaries in summer, where Sockeye salmon (Oncorhynchus nerka) and Dolly Varden (Salvelinus malma) support both predator and human subsistence. Mountain goats (Oreamnos americanus) inhabit the alpine ridges and cliff faces above 3,000 feet, where they graze on alpine herbaceous meadows. Moose (Alces alces) browse the willow and alder shrublands at mid-elevations. In the hemlock and spruce forests, Spruce Grouse (Canachites canadensis) forage on conifer needles and berries, while wood frogs (Lithobates sylvaticus) breed in small pools and seepage areas. The federally endangered short-tailed albatross (Phoebastria albatrus) occasionally appears in coastal waters adjacent to the area. Black-billed Magpies (Pica hudsonia) and Arctic Terns (Sterna paradisaea) move through the landscape seasonally, the latter arriving to breed in summer.

A person traveling through Resurrection experiences the landscape as a series of ecological transitions. Following Resurrection Creek upstream from Gold Gulch, the trail enters the dark, dripping hemlock forest where Devil's Club crowds the understory and the sound of water is constant. As elevation increases, the forest opens into alder and salmonberry shrubland, the canopy breaking apart and light reaching the ground. The air becomes cooler and the vegetation lower. Crossing into the alpine meadows near Resurrection Pass or climbing toward Langille Mountain, the forest disappears entirely, replaced by dwarf shrubs and herbaceous plants that hug the ground. Here, on the ridgelines, the landscape opens to views of surrounding peaks and the sound shifts from the rush of creeks to wind across exposed rock and tundra. The transition from hemlock cove to alpine meadow—a change of only a few thousand feet in elevation—encompasses the full range of the area's ecological communities.

Indigenous peoples of Sugpiaq/Alutiiq and Dena'ina descent occupied the lands that now comprise the Chugach region for over 7,500 to 10,000 years. The Chugachmiut and other groups stewarded these territories through seasonal harvesting of fish, sea mammals, and berries, navigating coastal waters in skin-covered kayaks and larger boats to hunt and trade. The Qutekcak Native Tribe, based in nearby Seward at the head of Resurrection Bay, represents this Alutiiq/Sugpiaq heritage and maintains ancestral connections to the Big Beach area adjacent to this roadless region. Traditional place names such as Qutekcak ("Big Beach") and Kahtnuht'ana ("Kenai River People") document the cultural geography of the landscape. The Chugachmiut occupied a dynamic exchange route along the southern Kenai coast, trading with the Dena'ina of Cook Inlet, the Ahtna of the Copper River, and southeastern groups including the Eyak and Tlingit.

Russian exploration reached Resurrection Bay in 1792 when Alexander Baranov sought shelter in the area and named it after the Russian Sunday of the Resurrection. Baranov established a shipyard and constructed the schooner Phoenix in the bay, initiating European economic activity in the region.

Gold mining became the dominant land use in the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. The region experienced one of Alaska's first gold rushes, with Resurrection Creek at the center of intensive mining operations from the 1900s through the 1940s. Miners employed hydraulic and heavy equipment that significantly altered the landscape, converting stream channels into deep, straight ditches and stripping away topsoil and riparian vegetation. A historic mining community called Hope developed near the northern end of the present roadless area. The city of Seward, founded in 1903 at the head of Resurrection Bay and named after Secretary of State William H. Seward, emerged as a critical transportation hub. The Alaska Central Railway established Seward as its southern terminus, intended to reach Alaska's interior, and the city subsequently served as a "Gateway" for steamships, railroad transport, and later the Seward Highway. The Iditarod Trail system, established in 1910, originated in Seward and provided a vital winter dogsled route through the Kenai Mountains to interior gold fields. Historic mining operations throughout the Kenai Peninsula left behind tailings piles, collapsed mill buildings, bunkhouses, and aqueducts.

President Theodore Roosevelt established the Chugach National Forest on July 23, 1907, by Presidential Proclamation under the authority of the Forest Reserve Act of 1891. Roosevelt issued a second proclamation on September 18, 1907, to modify boundaries and exclude certain lands. An Executive Order on July 2, 1908, consolidated the Chugach National Forest with the Afognak Forest and Fish Culture Reserve, originally designated in 1892. A proclamation on February 23, 1909, significantly enlarged the forest to include the Knik and Kenai regions, bringing its total size to approximately 11.3 million acres. The establishment of the federal forest in 1907 restricted Alaska Native groups from acquiring land allotments under the 1906 Allotment Act. President Calvin Coolidge modified the boundaries again through Proclamation 1741 on May 29, 1925, both adding lands and excluding others for public entry, specifically for ex-service members. In the 1930s, Executive Orders 5402 (July 24, 1930) and 5517 (December 17, 1930) excluded small tracts for fish canneries and home sites. The Alaska Native Claims Settlement Act of 1971 subsequently allowed Alaska Native corporations to select hundreds of thousands of acres from within the forest boundaries.

Gold mining in the Chugach National Forest declined and largely ceased by 1956, though the broader region saw extraction of coal, oil, gas, and copper at various periods. Commercial logging within the Chugach National Forest has remained minimal, with less than 2 percent of the forest considered suitable for timber operations. Large-scale commercial fish hatcheries were established at Main Bay and Cannery Creek in 1980. The Resurrection roadless area is currently protected under the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, which prevents new road construction and commercial timber harvesting. The U.S. Forest Service is partnering with the Hope Mining Company, Kinross Gold, and Trout Unlimited to restore a two-mile stretch of Resurrection Creek on active mining claims, addressing impacts of historic hydraulic mining operations.

Vital Resources Protected

Salmon Spawning Habitat Recovery in Headwater Streams

The Upper Resurrection Creek headwaters and its tributary network (Bear Creek, Palmer Creek) form the spawning and rearing grounds for all five Pacific salmon species—Chinook, Coho, Pink, Chum, and Sockeye. Historic mining straightened the creek into a fast-flowing ditch, destroying the pools and riffles essential for salmon reproduction. The roadless condition protects the intact upper watershed where restoration efforts are rebuilding natural stream sinuosity and spawning substrate. Without road access, the headwaters remain free from the chronic sedimentation and temperature increases that would reset decades of restoration progress and prevent salmon populations from reestablishing in sections where they have nearly disappeared.

Alpine and Subalpine Climate Refugia Connectivity

The area spans from Gold Gulch (600 ft) to the Kenai Mountains (6,000 ft), encompassing a complete elevational gradient through Alaskan Pacific Maritime Alpine Dwarf-Shrubland, Alpine Mesic Herbaceous Meadow, and Mountain Hemlock Forest ecosystems. This vertical connectivity allows species including Caribou (vulnerable, IUCN) and white bog orchid (vulnerable, IUCN) to shift their ranges as temperatures rise—a critical adaptation as regional temperatures have increased 3°F to 4°F since the mid-20th century. Road construction would fragment this gradient, isolating high-elevation populations from lower-elevation refugia and preventing the upslope migration that these species require to track suitable climate conditions as the landscape warms.

Riparian Wetland-Upland Transition Integrity

The Alaskan Pacific Maritime Alpine Floodplain and Subalpine Alder-Salmonberry Shrubland ecosystems form the hydrological and ecological interface between upland forests and stream channels. These transition zones support vulnerable species including Menzies' Burnet (vulnerable, IUCN) and provide critical habitat for waterfowl such as Trumpeter Swan (apparently secure, IUCN) and Greater Yellowlegs (near threatened, IUCN). The roadless condition preserves the natural water table and sediment dynamics that maintain these wetland-upland mosaics. Road fill and drainage would disrupt groundwater flow, collapse the hydrological function that sustains these specialized plant communities, and eliminate the shallow-water foraging habitat that migratory and resident waterfowl depend on.

Marine-Terrestrial Linkage for Federally Endangered Species

The Resurrection area's coastal proximity and salmon-bearing streams create a critical feeding and breeding corridor for the federally endangered short-tailed albatross, which depends on productive marine ecosystems sustained by nutrient cycling from salmon populations. The roadless condition protects the intact watershed that delivers salmon biomass to coastal waters, supporting the food web foundation for this species. Road construction and associated mining would degrade salmon habitat, reducing the marine productivity that albatross populations require for survival and reproduction.

Threats from Road Construction

Sedimentation and Stream Temperature Increase from Canopy Removal and Cut Slopes

Road construction requires clearing forest canopy and cutting into steep mountainous terrain to create stable roadbeds. In the Resurrection watershed, where historic mining already straightened the creek and destroyed natural sediment-trapping pools, new road cuts would generate chronic erosion from exposed slopes, delivering fine sediment that smothers salmon spawning substrate and reduces water clarity. Simultaneous removal of riparian forest canopy would eliminate shade, causing stream temperatures to rise—a direct threat to cold-water salmon species already stressed by regional warming of 3°F to 4°F. The combination of sedimentation and warming would prevent the recovery of Chinook, Coho, Pink, Chum, and Sockeye populations that restoration efforts have begun to rebuild.

Habitat Fragmentation and Edge Effects in Alpine Elevational Gradient

Road construction through the 224,615-acre area would bisect the continuous elevational gradient from 600 to 6,000 feet, creating a linear barrier that divides populations of Caribou (vulnerable, IUCN) and white bog orchid (vulnerable, IUCN) into isolated segments. The road corridor itself becomes an edge habitat where invasive species—including documented threats such as orange hawkweed, bird vetch, and white sweetclover—establish in disturbed soil and spread into adjacent alpine meadows and shrublands. This fragmentation prevents the upslope migration that these species require to track suitable climate conditions as temperatures continue to rise, effectively trapping populations in warming lower-elevation zones where they cannot persist.

Culvert Barriers and Hydrological Disruption in Floodplain Ecosystems

Road construction across the Alaskan Pacific Maritime Alpine Floodplain and tributary valleys requires stream crossings with culverts or fills that interrupt water flow and sediment transport. These structures block the lateral connectivity between stream channels and floodplain wetlands, disrupting the natural water table that sustains Menzies' Burnet (vulnerable, IUCN) and the shallow-water habitats used by Trumpeter Swan and Greater Yellowlegs (near threatened, IUCN). Road fill also compacts soil and alters groundwater gradients, collapsing the hydrological function of wetland-upland transition zones. Once these specialized ecosystems lose their water supply, they cannot be restored to function—the transition from wetland to upland becomes permanent, eliminating habitat for species that depend on this specific ecological structure.

Invasive Species Establishment and Spread via Road Disturbance Corridors

Road construction creates a continuous corridor of disturbed soil, exposed mineral substrate, and reduced native plant competition—ideal conditions for invasive species to establish and spread. Surveys have documented orange hawkweed, bird vetch, white sweetclover, and aquatic invasives such as Elodea as threats to the Resurrection area. A road would provide a dispersal highway for these species into previously intact alpine meadows, subalpine shrublands, and riparian habitats, where they would outcompete native plants including white bog orchid and Menzies' Burnet (both vulnerable, IUCN). Once invasive species become established in alpine and subalpine ecosystems, they are extremely difficult to remove due to the harsh climate and slow plant growth rates—the native plant community cannot recover, and the habitat value for dependent species is permanently degraded.

The Resurrection Roadless Area spans 224,615 acres of the Chugach National Forest on the Kenai Peninsula, offering backcountry access to alpine terrain, salmon streams, and wildlife habitat across the Kenai Mountains. The area's roadless condition supports a range of activities that depend on trail-based access and undisturbed watersheds: long-distance hiking and backpacking, remote fishing for wild salmon and trout, hunting for big game and upland birds, birding across forest and alpine zones, and packrafting on glacier-fed creeks. All of these activities would be fundamentally altered by road construction.

Hiking and Backpacking

The Resurrection Pass Trail (317) is the primary corridor through the area—a 38-mile through-route between Hope and Cooper Landing that climbs from 500 feet to 2,651 feet at the pass. The north-to-south route takes 2–4 days for most hikers; fit mountain bikers may complete it in a single day. The trail traverses spruce forest, muskegs, and open alpine tundra, with eight public-use cabins (reservations required) and 19 designated campsites equipped with bear-resistant lockers. A side trip 1,600 vertical feet above the pass to the west ridgeline offers 360-degree views of Denali and the Alaska Range to the north and the Harding Icefield to the southeast. Pack and saddle stock are closed to all major trails from April 1 to June 30 to protect soft trails during snowmelt.

Devil's Creek Trail (305) is a 10-mile moderate route with 1,470 feet of elevation gain that climbs a V-shaped valley past several waterfalls and high alpine lakes near Devil's Pass. The first 3 miles are gentle; the next 5 miles climb steadily. This trail connects to the Resurrection Pass Trail and is part of the 20-mile Summit Creek–Devil's Pass Loop, a backpacking circuit using the Summit Creek and Devil's Creek trailheads, which are 4.5 miles apart on the Seward Highway.

Summit Creek Trail (348) is a moderate-to-difficult 6–8 mile route gaining 3,277 feet through three glacial valleys with tarns and moraines. The trail passes the ruins of the Oracle Mine at mile 1.5 and is not recommended for winter travel. Mountain biking is strongly discouraged due to fragile tundra.

Hope Point Trail (341) is a steep 4-mile route with 2,338–3,600 feet of elevation gain, ending in a rocky scramble to a 3,706-foot summit. The trail offers views of Turnagain Arm, Cook Inlet, and Fire Island. Biking is not recommended due to steepness and tight switchbacks; the trail has no water sources after the first third of a mile.

Gull Rock Trail (334) is an easy-to-moderate 5.7-mile route with rolling hills and 200–2,430 feet of cumulative elevation gain. It ends at a rocky peninsula overlooking Turnagain Arm and Cook Inlet. The Forest Service does not recommend horses or bicycles, though it is a popular local mountain biking destination.

Shorter day hikes include Bear Creek Trail (324) (3.7 miles), Palmer Lakes Trail (355) (0.6 miles), Slaughter Gulch Trail (344) (0.6 miles), Swan Lake Cabin Trail (364) (1.1 miles), Slate Creek Trail (359) (0.4 miles), Colorado Creek Trail (329) (4.1 miles), and Fresno Creek Trail (338) (1.7 miles). Access trailheads include Summit Creek TH, Resurrection Pass North TH, Devils Pass TH, Resurrection Pass South TH, and Crescent Creek TH. Nearby campgrounds—Russian River CG, Coeur d'Alene CG, Tenderfoot Creek CG, Porcupine CG, Crescent Creek CG, and Cooper Creek CG—provide staging areas for trail access.

Motorized vehicle use on Resurrection Pass Trail is closed from May 1 to November 30; winter motorized use is permitted only from December 1 to April 30 in odd-numbered years. The roadless condition preserves the quiet, undisturbed character essential to backcountry hiking and the multi-day wilderness experience.

Fishing

Resurrection Creek supports runs of pink, coho, and chum salmon, as well as Dolly Varden and rainbow trout. The lower sections near Hope are known for significant pink salmon runs. Juneau Creek and its associated lakes—Juneau Lake and Trout Lake—support rainbow trout, Dolly Varden, and Arctic grayling. Named tributaries including Caribou Creek, Fox Creek, and East Creek intersect the Resurrection Pass Trail; these high-elevation segments support native trout and Dolly Varden in the drainage system.

All fisheries are managed as wild populations with no active hatchery stocking within the roadless area. From September 1 to December 31, flowing waters transition to unbaited, single-hook, artificial lures or flies only to protect spawning salmon and resident trout. Snagging is prohibited in all fresh waters of the Resurrection Creek drainage. Resurrection Creek is closed to king salmon fishing year-round. Rainbow trout limits are typically 2 per day, 2 in possession, with only one allowed to be 20 inches or longer.

The Resurrection Pass Trail (38 miles) allows anglers to access remote sections of the creek and alpine lakes that receive less pressure than road-accessible waters. Public-use cabins along the trail—including Juneau Lake Cabin and Trout Lake Cabin—provide lakeside fishing access. Access points include the North Trailhead (4 miles up Resurrection Creek Road from Mile 15 of the Hope Highway), the South Trailhead (Mile 53.2 of the Sterling Highway in Cooper Landing), and the Devil's Creek Trailhead (Mile 39 of the Seward Highway). The roadless condition preserves the backcountry fishing experience and protects spawning habitat in undisturbed streams.

Hunting

The area lies within Alaska Game Management Unit 7 and supports hunting for moose, black bear, brown bear, caribou (Kenai Mountains herd), Dall sheep, mountain goats, wolves, spruce grouse, ptarmigan, and snowshoe hare. The caribou herd is noted for high trophy potential due to limited hunting pressure.

Black bear hunting has no closed season; the bag limit is two bears per regulatory year. Dall sheep season typically runs from the second week of August through September 20, limited to one ram with full-curl horns or larger. Moose season typically opens in late August or early September and closes in late September, restricted to one bull with spike-fork or 50-inch antlers, or three or more brow tines on one side. Caribou season opens the second week of August and lasts until the end of December. Grouse and ptarmigan seasons typically run from August to April; snowshoe hare may be hunted year-round. Non-resident hunters for brown bear, Dall sheep, and mountain goat must be accompanied by a licensed big game guide. All moose hunters in GMU 7 must complete a Moose Hunter Orientation.

The Cooper Landing Closed Area (bounded by Juneau Creek, Falls Creek, and Devils Creek) is closed to the taking of Dall sheep and mountain goat. The Russian River Closed Area (within 150 yards of the river from Lower Russian Lake to the Kenai River confluence) is closed to all hunting during June and July.

Primary access points for hunters include the Resurrection Pass North Trailhead (Mile 4 of Resurrection Creek Road, accessible via Mile 15 of the Hope Highway), the Resurrection Pass South Trailhead (Mile 53.2 of the Sterling Highway in Cooper Landing), the Devil's Creek Trailhead (Mile 39 of the Seward Highway), and the Bean Creek Trail (an alternate winter access point off Bean Creek Road at Mile 47.7 of the Sterling Highway). Pack and saddle stock are closed from April 1 to June 30. Motorized vehicle use on Resurrection Pass Trail is closed from May 1 to November 30; winter motorized use is permitted only from December 1 to April 30 in odd-numbered years. The roadless condition maintains the remote, low-pressure hunting environment that supports the area's trophy potential and protects unfragmented habitat for caribou, sheep, and other game species.

Birding

The area supports diverse bird communities across forest and alpine habitats. Ptarmigan (Willow and Rock) are documented on upper slopes and alpine tundra near Resurrection Pass and Devils Pass. Varied thrush are noted for their trilling calls in spruce forests along the Resurrection Pass Trail. Other forest species include chestnut-backed chickadees, golden-crowned sparrows, American robins, yellow warblers, fox sparrows, song sparrows, tree swallows, violet-green swallows, red-breasted nuthatches, and ruby-crowned kinglets. Bald eagles are frequently observed soaring on thermals over the mountainous terrain.

Spring and summer bring migratory songbirds and the "haunting whistling song" of the golden-crowned sparrow. Shorebirds and waterfowl are documented in lower elevations and riparian zones during these months. Hardy resident species—common ravens, chickadees, and ptarmigan—remain throughout winter.

The Resurrection Pass Trail (38 miles) is a primary corridor for birding, traversing diverse habitats from spruce forests to alpine tundra. Devil's Creek Trail (10 miles) climbs through thick forest into an alpine valley, providing access to subalpine birding habitats. Summit Creek Trail intersects the Resurrection Pass Trail and offers access to high-elevation tundra. Public-use cabins such as the Devils Pass Cabin and East Creek Cabin serve as remote basecamps for multi-day birding trips. The Portage Circle Christmas Bird Count, established in 2025 and administered by the Alaska Wildlife Conservation Center, overlaps the eastern portion of the roadless area, including parts of Turnagain Pass. The roadless condition preserves interior forest habitat and undisturbed breeding grounds for songbirds and raptors.

Paddling

Resurrection Creek is a popular packrafting and tubing destination divided into three recreational segments. The Cascades Section features three short, stout Class IV drops (technical and powerful at higher flows). The Lower Canyon is a short (0.25-mile) Class III canyon followed by approximately 2 miles of Class II+ floating. The Lower Section is an 8-mile stretch of Class II water (characterized by "boogie" water, sweepers, and logjams) extending from the Resurrection Pass trailhead to the town of Hope.

Put-in and take-out locations include the Caribou Creek bridge (approximately 7 miles up the Resurrection Pass Trail) for the Cascades Section, with take-out at the Resurrection Pass North Trailhead. The Lower Canyon put-in is via a "miner's trail" located 2.5 miles from the trailhead (marked with a yellow "Federal Mining Claim" sign), with take-out upstream of the bridge at the Resurrection Pass North Trailhead. The Lower Section put-in is near where the Resurrection Pass Trail begins to diverge from the creek, with take-out in downtown Hope.

Resurrection Creek has no dedicated gauge; paddlers use the Sixmile Creek gauge as a proxy. High/pushy conditions occur at Sixmile gauge over 9.6 feet; medium conditions are between 9.0 and 9.4 feet; low/bony conditions (requiring "starfishing" on tubes to avoid rocks) occur under 8.8 feet. The best season for paddling is May through July. The roadless condition preserves the creek's natural flow regime and undisturbed riparian character.

Photography

The Resurrection Pass Trail offers multiple scenic overlooks and vistas. A side trip 1,600 vertical feet above the pass to the west ridgeline provides a 360-degree panorama including Denali and the Alaska Range to the north and the Harding Icefield to the southeast. The trail breaks out of the forest into open alpine tundra at approximately 2,600 feet, offering vistas of rolling tundra and sharp peaks connected by hogback ridges. The Juneau Creek valley offers views of nearby mountains, lakes, and muskegs. Portions of the trail 500–1,000 feet above Resurrection Creek provide intermittent views of the river and surrounding Kenai Mountains. A designated campsite at Mile 22.6 is located north of an escarpment overlooking the valley containing Swan Lake.

Juneau Creek Falls is described as a "spectacular" waterfall located approximately 4.5 miles from the southern trailhead. Juneau Creek gorges feature dramatic gorges and small waterfalls. Notable water features include Juneau Lake, Swan Lake, and Trout Lake. The alpine realm above treeline displays wildflowers including Nootka lupine. Seasonal berries include blueberries, currants, raspberries, gooseberries, and crowberries. The forest sections are noted for high density of diverse mushrooms, particularly during rainy seasons.

Large mammals documented for wildlife photography include moose, brown bears, black bears, wolves, mountain goats, and Dall sheep. A small resident caribou herd is often found bedding in snow patches near ridgelines in the Resurrection Pass and Devil's Pass areas during summer. Bald eagles, spruce grouse, ptarmigan, and forest birds such as the varied thrush offer bird photography opportunities. Sockeye salmon can be photographed spawning in the Swan Lake outlet during mid-July and August.

Dispersed camping away from established sites facilitates access to darker skies for stargazing. The area's remote, "off the grid" conditions provide the low light pollution necessary for dark sky viewing. The roadless condition preserves the scenic integrity and wildlife habitat that make the area a premier landscape and wildlife photography destination.