Butter Creek Research Natural Area Gifford Pinchot National Forest and Mount Rainier National Park , USFS West Cascades, Washington Ecoregion Cell(s): Mountain hemlock/big huckleberry Pacific silver fir/Alaska huckleberry Pacific silver fir/Cascades azalea Pacific silver fir/devils club Pacific silver fir/fools huckleberry Pacific silver fir/rosy twisted stalk Pacific silver fir/western coolwort Red mountain heather-blueleaf huckleberry Red mountain heather/broadleaf lupine Sitka alder-vine maple Green fescue community Subalpine permanent pond and drainage basin Subalpine freshwater wetland Subalpine stream and riparian system

Access by trail and cross-country travel

The 1036 ha Butter Creek RNA is located in Gifford Pinchot National Forest, Lewis County, Washington. The RNA was originally resticted to 810 ha within the boundaries of Mount Rainier National Park; however, an additional 226 ha were added in 1974 in order to include the entire upper drainage of Butter Creek and to increase the representation of mixed old growth forest. Elevations in the natural area range from 899 m to 2116 m. and, with the exception of gently sloping terraces, the topography is generally very steep with slopes ranging from 70 to 100 percent. Rock outcrop and talus communities are present, as well as at least four ponds or lakes. In addition, several miles of a perennial stream flow through the tract. The most important overstory species are Douglas fir (Pseudotsuga menziesii), western hemlock (Tsuga heterophylla), Pacific silver fir (Abies amabilis), and noble fir (Abies procera). Mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) and subalpine fir (Abies lasiocarpa) also gain importance as elevation increases. In most stands, Pacific silver fir, western hemlock, Alaska cedar (Chamaecyparis nootkatensis), and western yew (Taxus brevifolia) are important understory conifers. The shrubs layer is dominated by vine maple (Acer circinatum), Alaska huckleberry (Vaccinium alaskaense), and ovalleaf huckleberry (Vaccinium ovalifolium) at low and mid elevations, and rusty leaf (Menziesia ferruginea) and azalea (Rhododendron albifolium) at high elevations. The herb layer is generally scarce, although vanilla leaf (Achlys triphylla), bunchberry dogwood (Cornus canadensis), western coolwort (Tiarwlla unifoliata), and Queens's cup (Clintonia uniflora) can be found. Subapline meadow vegetation begins at 1585 m, and is dominated by green fescue (Festuca viridula) with either broadleaved lupine (Lupinus latifolius) or Cascade aster (Eucephalus ledophyllus). In addition, heather (Calluna) and snowbed communities are also present. Human disturbance is minimal with the exception of a small area in the northern portion of the tract, near the terminus of Pinnacle Peak trail.