WILLAMETTE NATIONAL FOREST
Located in the western Cascades, in west-central Oregon, Willamette National Forest encloses an area of snow-covered mountains and volcanoes, with 10,495-foot Mount Jefferson the highest point.
There are rock outcroppings and pinnacles, lava fields, craters, cinder cones, and many glaciersincluding Collier Glacier, Oregon’s
largestalong with deep river canyons, hundreds of lakes, a great many streams, and some major rivers.
The area is forested with lodgepole and pon-derosa pine, Douglas and silver fir, plus hemlock and cedar, with some old-growth stands. Among the wildlife are Roosevelt elk, black-tailed and mule deer, black bear, cougar, and coyote.
Willamette has eight designated wilderness areas: portions of the 283,402-acre Three Sisters Wilderness, the 111,177-acre Mount Jefferson Wilderness, the 52,516-acre Mount Washington Wilderness and the 52,337-acre Diamond Peak Wilderness, along with the 37,162-acre Waldo Lake Wilderness, 7,500 acres of the 34,900-acre Bull of the Woods Wilderness, the 8,542-acre Mid-San-tiam Wilderness, and the 5,033-acre Menagerie Wilderness.
Activities: Hiking and backpacking are possible on over 1,400 miles of trails, including about 100 miles of the Pacific Crest Trail (see entry page 244) and the 27-mile McKenzie River National Recreation Trail. Difficulty varies from easy to strenuous.
Kayaking and canoeing are available on the McKenzie River. Many trails are open to horseback riding, and cross-country skiing is a winter option here. Mountaineering is possible on a number of peaks. There are also many opportunities for fishing along lakes and streams, and hunting is permitted in season.
Camping Regulations: Camping and campfires are allowed freely throughout most of the National Forest, except near public use areas or where otherwise prohibited.
A permit is required to enter and camp in the Three Sisters, Mount Jefferson, and Mount Washington Wilderness areas from Memorial Day Weekend through October 31. Permits are available in person or by mail or phone. Group size is limited to 12 in these areas.
For Further Information: Willamette National Forest, P.O. Box 10607, 211 East 7th Avenue, Eugene, OR 97440; (503)687-6521.
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