27px, we want 27. Please register or login . You'll find 22 named lakes, most of them set like jewels in cirques high in the valleys and drained by streams. Lakes and streams contain rainbow, brook and brown trout. An extreme diversity of plants are found here including 17 species of conifers, probably more than anywhere else in the world.
Meadows often open the forest, and rocky pinnacles and bluffs rise in numerous locations.
Wildlife species include bountiful populations of deer and bears. Elevations range from 4,800 feet to 8,200 feet atop Russian Peak. An extensive trail system generally crosses steep and rocky ground, difficult for stock. Stock forage is limited in most of the lakeside campsites. The Pacific Crest Trail runs the entire length of the area north-south for about 17 miles, but stays high with few campsites and snow until late in the season.