Wilderness Rules and Regulations

 

Wilderness Permits

Whether day-hiking or overnight back-packing, all individuals and/or groups must obtain a wilderness permit between June 15 and October 15. For all day-use and overnight use in the Opal Creek, Middle Santiam, Menagerie, Waldo Lake, or Diamond Peak wildernesses, the permits are free self-issued permits that are obtained at the trailhead.  

For the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington and Three Sisters wildernesses a permit system has been implemented to allow access into these well-loved wildernesses, but also to protect them for future generations. The Central Cascades Wilderness Permit system requires permits for all overnight use and 19 day-use trailheads in the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Washington Wilderness areas from June 15 to October 15. Permits can be reserved on Recreation.gov beginning the first Tuesday of April every year. For day-use in these wildernesses on the 60 trails that do not require a permit, visitors will need to obtain a free self-issued permit at those trailheads.

View complete Forest Order 06-01-20-01 and map for details. 
 

Federal Regulations (36 CFR 261.18) for National Forest Wilderness

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is prohibited. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters. Flying drones or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS) over wilderness areas is also prohibited.
 

The following are prohibited in all congressionally designated wilderness areas managed by the Deschutes and Willamette National Forests:

• Groups larger than 12 persons and 12 head of stock. Large groups multiply the impact on the resource and can be disruptive to others.
• Entering or being in Willamette National Forest wildernesses without a permit. Visitors need a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit or a self-issuing permit, depending on the trip. For more information about permits, visit our wilderness permits page. Information gathered from permits is vital in determining proper management.
• Hitching, tethering, picketing, or securing any pack or saddle stock within 200 feet slope distance of any permanent lake, stream, spring, pond or shelter. These areas are sensitive to the effect of repeated grazing and trampling. Once damage occurs, water quality may be affected by resulting erosion.
• Motorized equipment and mechanized equipment such as bicycles, wagons, carts or wheelbarrows (except wheelchairs). These uses are incompatible with the legal and ethical definition of wilderness.
• Discharging a firearm within 150 yards of a campsite or occupied area or across a body of water or in any manner or place whereby any person is exposed to injury. The indiscriminate discharge of firearms in areas of recreation use is dangerous.
• Camping or being within areas posted as closed for rehabilitation. These areas have been closed to allow recovery. Use of these sites inhibits restoration efforts.
• Cutting or damaging any live tree or vegetation except as authorized. Damaging or cutting live trees or shrubs is opposed to wilderness values and the concept of a natural environment.
• Storing equipment, personal property or supplies within the wilderness for more than 48 hours. Storing personal belongings disrupts the natural conditions of the wilderness and others' experience.
• Gathering a forest product, for example mushrooms and berries, except for personal on site use. Limiting collection of edibles, such as mushrooms and berries, to what you can consume during your visit assures future visitors the same sense of discovery and enjoyment.
• Commercial use and/or services within wilderness except by special use permit. This use is incompatible with the legal and ethical definition of Wilderness.
   

Special Area Regulations

Three Sisters Wilderness

• These areas require a Central Cascade Wilderness Permit for overnight use and some day use. See the Central Cascade Wilderness Permit page for more information.
• Green Lakes basin, Moraine Lake basin, North and South Matthieu Lakes are designated camping areas and overnight campers must camp within 15 feet from an established post.  If no campsites are available, campers must leave the lake basin.
• No Name Lake on Broken Top Tarn – No camping within ¼ mile of the high-water mark.
• Golden Lake – No camping within 250 feet of water or the high-water mark
• No camping within 100 feet of the high-water mark of lake or any water source in these areas:
  • Linton Meadow area
  • Minnie Scott Springs area
  • Obsidian area, including-
    • Arrowhead Lake
    • Glacier Creek
    • Obsidian Creek
    • Obsidian Meadows
    • White Branch Creek
• Campfires are prohibited above 5700 feet

Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Regulations

• These areas require a Central Cascade Wilderness Permit for overnight use and some day use. See the Central Cascade Wilderness Permit page for more information.
• Pamelia Lake and Jefferson Park Area – No camping within 100 feet of high-water mark of lake or any other water source
• Campfires are prohibited above 5,700 feet and within these lake basins:
  • Marion Lake
  • Ann Lake
  • Table Lake

Mt. Washington Wilderness Regulations

• These areas require a Central Cascade Wilderness Permit for overnight use and some day use. See the Central Cascade Wilderness Permit page for more information.
• Campfires are prohibited above 5700 feet and within these lake basins:
  • Benson Lake
  • Tenas Lake

Diamond Peak Wilderness

• Campfires are prohibited above 6,000 foot elevation.

View complete Forest Order and map for details. Check with a local Ranger District office for further information and detailed maps.

Weed-Free Feed

As part of a larger effort to reduce invasive species on national forest lands, weed-free feed is required in the 17 national forests and the Crooked River National Grasslands of the Pacific Northwest. 

• Weed-Free Feed Requirements
• Weed-Free Forage Providers
• Weed-Free Forage Progam
   

---

Violation of these and other laws, rules and regulations which apply to designated Wilderness are punishable by a fine or imprisonment. (16 U.S.C. 551, 18 U.S.C. 3559 and 3571).