Preliminary Wilderness Proposal No. 2 consisted of some 18,000 acres of an approximate 21,400-acre roadless area in the southeast portion of the park. The boundaries and features of this area were:
The southeast roadless area extends from the Pinnacles Road at the eastern boundary southward to the southeast corner of the park, and then along the south boundary westward to the “panhandle” of the park. Its western and northern boundaries are the South Entrance, Rim Drive, and the Pinnacles and Grayback Motor Nature Roads. The area is an irregularly shaped 5- by 9-mile section. . . .
Annie Creek and its tributaries drain the western part of the area. Within its canyons are fragile biological communities and unusual geologic formations, including columnar-jointed scoria and pinnacles formed by differential erosion in “fossil fumarole” areas.
Bisecting this area is Sun Creek, a major stream that provides one of the principal fisheries of the park.
Preliminary Wilderness Proposal No. 3 comprised some 12,500 acres of an approximate 19,500-acre roadless area in the southwest section of the park. This area was described:
The roadless area in the southwest section of the park consists of some 19,500 acres and extends from the South Entrance along the south and west boundary, the West and South Entrance Roads, and the Union Peak Motor Nature Road. Within the area is a plateau dominated by Matterhorn-like Union Peak, with deep Red Blanket Canyon as a feature of the southwest corner. Several cones and other volcanic features are also of geologic interest. Plant cover represents three life zones, and varies from the sparcity of a pumice desert to the lushness of a mature forest; and there are lower elevation plants found in the Red Blanket Creek drainage.
Union Peak, the dominant geological feature of this area, at an elevation of 7698 feet, is an outstanding remnant plug of one of the major Pliocene shield volcanoes in the region.
Whitehorse Pond contains salamander populations which have been subjected to intensive scientific study. A small but growing herd of elk regularly occupies the country surrounding Union Peak.
Preliminary Wilderness Proposal No. 4 consisted of some 42,200 acres of an approximate 50,900-acre roadless area in the northwest section of the park. This area was described:
The largest roadless area in Crater Lake is the northwest section of the park. It is an area . . . from 4 to 7 miles wide and 13 miles long, and lies along the west slope of the Crater Lake caldera.
The Rogue River and several tributary streams originate in the series of springs within the western portion of the area.
Sphagnum Bog, near the western boundary, is the nucleus of a bog development unique to the area and rare throughout the entire region. Insectivorous plants of several species flourish here, and the entire community forms a distinct contrast to its surrounding area. Here, as in the park’s other roadless areas, there are forests of whitebark pine, mountain hemlock, and western white, lodgepole, and ponderosa pines at the higher to lower elevations.
Boundary Springs on the north boundary forms the headwaters of the Rogue River. These waters spring forth most unexpectedly from the otherwise-arid ground of the area, splash downward over the irregular terrain into a stream which leads north away from the park, producing an aquatic scene of great esthetic appeal.
While the lake was studied for possible wilderness designation, it was not recommended for the system. Boat use and lakeshore development at Cleetwood Cove and Wizard Island were found to be incompatible with the requirements for such designation. [50]
