The western part of the wilderness features dramatic views and peaks of the northern Washington Cascade Mountains while the eastern section is known for its grasslands and Alpine tundra.

[citation needed] Rugged ridges in the west flatten into more open plateaus toward the east, with deep drainages on both sides.

[3] More than 600 miles of trails provide access to the wilderness, many of them deceptively gentle at the start and become progressively difficult as they climb up multiple switchbacks into the higher elevations.

Because of the lack of maintenance of certain trails and size of the wilderness, some areas are very seldom visited except by the most intrepid of individuals.

For the general public, it is recommended that one possess a strong knowledge of map use and other navigational tools to explore the wilderness in depth.