Wilderness
There are about 279,150 acres of wilderness on Mt. Hood National Forest. Over 124,000 acres of this total was designated as wilderness in 2009. With a large percentage of the Forest designated as federal wilderness, it's important to understand what wilderness is and why it matters.
The Wilderness Act of 1964 defines federal wilderness as an area of land that has been mostly undisturbed by modern human development, like roads or buildings.
The Wilderness Act’s purpose is to preserve and protect the natural ecosystems and wild areas and also provide opportunities for solitude and retrospective or primitive recreation. The Act states that federal wilderness should be protected and preserved in its natural condition, without permanent improvements, roads, or habitation.
Wilderness Permits
The Forest Service uses wilderness permits to monitor wilderness use, set trail maintenance priorities, and plan work priorities. On Mt. Hood National Forest:
- Free, self-issued wilderness permits are required from May 15 to October 15 when provided at a portal. Not all trails will have Wilderness portals.
- Visitors must have a wilderness permit in their possession year-round when on the south side climbing route of Mt. Hood.
- Climbers traveling above 9,500 feet must purchase a 3-day or annual permit on Recreation.gov. Learn more about the Mt. Hood Climbing Permit.
Wilderness Regulations

Wilderness is meant to be used and enjoyed, and “primitive recreation” is even part of the definition of wilderness in the Wilderness Act.
All federal wilderness regulations, including limits on visitor use and group size as well as human waste disposal, are listed on Wilderness Connect. Please help us keep these areas wild, clean, and pristine.
Federal Wilderness in Mt. Hood National Forest
The highest point within the 29,057-acre Badger Creek Wilderness is Lookout Mountain (6,525 feet), located in the northwest portion. Lookout Mountain area is a subalpine ecosystem, which occupies elevations just below tree-line between 9,000 and 11,000 feet, and hosts hardy trees and rocky terrain. The eastern portion of the Wilderness is generally warmer and dryer in summer months and contains ponderosa pine forest, Oregon white oak and grasslands.
Three creeks (Badger, Little Badger, and Tygh) drain Badger Creek Wilderness, where slope inclines range from 30 to 70 degrees. Rocks made smooth by glacier activity characterize the upper reaches of Badger Creek. Mountain hemlock dominates all three streams.
There are approximately 55 miles of trails in the wilderness, including the Badger Creek Trail, which follows the length of the creek in the Wilderness. From the western boundary, the steep 2.4-mile Gumjuwac Saddle Trail climbs to the confluence of four trails, including a spur route that ultimately connects to the Badger Creek Trail and provides a view of Mt. Hood to the northwest.
Key Access Points
Badger Creek Wilderness is located 28 miles south of Hood River, Oregon and 30 miles east of Sandy, Oregon.
Trails and trailheads that access Badger Creek Wilderness:
- Badger Creek Trail #479
- Badger Creek Cutoff Trail #477
- Badger Lake trailhead #479A
- Fret Creek Trail #456A
- Gumjuwac Trail #480
- High Prairie Trail #493
- Little Badger Trail #469
- Post Camp Trail #467
- Tygh Creek Trail #460
Other trails within Badger Creek Wilderness:
- Divide Trail #458
- Pine Creek Trail #465
Located 70 miles southeast of Portland and 65 miles east of Salem, the 36,731-acre Bull of the Woods Wilderness is relatively isolated. Steep ridges are deeply cut by a number of streams including the headwaters of the Collawash, Breitenbush, and Little North Santiam Rivers. The slopes of the numerous peaks are steep, with lower inclines ranging from 30 to 60 degrees and upper inclines from 60 to 90 degrees. The elevation ranges from 2,400 to 5,700 feet.
Vegetation changes from old-growth Douglas-fir/western hemlock to sparse sub-alpine forests. About a dozen lakes provide opportunities for fishing. The lakes are scattered throughout the Wilderness, accessible by trail but separated by high ridges.
At 5,523 feet, Bull of the Woods peak marks the hub of a relatively challenging 75-mile trail system, with several longer or shorter loop opportunities. A historic fire lookout used to exist at the summit on Bull of the Woods Peak, but was unfortunately burned during the Bull Complex fire in 2021. Traveling through this area you may come across relics of past mining activity from as early as the 1880s.
Key access points
Bull of the Woods Wilderness is about 2.5 hours southwest of Portland, Oregon via OR-224 and Forest Road 46.
The Pansy Lake Trail to the lookout tower travels about 1.2 easy miles to Pansy Lake before starting to climb. The Hot Springs Trail leads about 1.5 miles to Bagby Hot Springs, where you soak in one of the available tubs.
You can continue on the Hot Springs Trail for more than 13 miles across the middle of the wilderness.
Twin Lakes and Elk Lake at the southern boundary are the most popular camping destinations in Bull of the Woods.
Trails that access Bull of the Woods Wilderness:
- Bagby Hot Springs #544
- Bull of the Woods Trail #550
- Dickey Creek Trail #553
- Elk Lake Creek Trail #559
- Pansy Lake Trail #551
- Whetstone Trail #546
Other trails within Bull of the Woods Wilderness:
- Big Slide Lake Trail #553A
- Dickey Lake Trail #549
- Mother Lode Trail #558
- Schreiner Peak Trail #555
- Twin Lakes Trail #573
- Welcome Lakes Trail #554
- West Lake Way Trail #556
The 9,465-acre Clackamas Wilderness consists of 5 widely separated tracts of roadless land, scattered on either side of the Clackamas River over 50 miles. These pieces include Big Bottom, Clackamas Canyon, Memaloose Lake, Sisi Butte and South Fork Clackamas. With some of the largest trees in northwest Oregon, the Clackamas Wilderness protects clean drinking water for many Oregonians as well as habitat for many species.
A popular hike in the Clackamas Wilderness is the trail to Memaloose Lake. It climbs through an old-growth forest 1.4 miles to the lake, and then continues a mile up to a viewpoint atop South Fork Mountain. The old-growth forest around the lake is a rare example of mature forest habitat surrounded by lands that have been historically logged.
Key Access Points
Sections of the Clackamas Wilderness are located along the Wild and Scenic Clackamas River starting 22 miles southeast of Estacada, Oregon along OR-224.
Trails within Clackamas Wilderness:
- Clackamas River Trail #715
- Hillockburn Trail #516
- Memaloose Lake Trail #515
The White River rises in the high Cascades in western Wasco County, in the Mt. Hood National Forest on the southeast side of Mt. Hood. The headwaters are just below White River Glacier in White River Canyon.
Mount Hood Wilderness protects upper portions of the river, while the 2,873-acre Lower White River Wilderness, southeast of the Mount Hood Wilderness and east of Highway 26, provides a buffer for a lower segment of the river.
Key Access Points
There are no maintained trails within Lower White River Wilderness and no formal access points, but Keeps Mill Campground is located just west of the Lower White River Wilderness. Keeps Mill Campground is located on Forest Road 2120 along the Wild and Scenic White River, just west of the wilderness boundary.
The 65,822-acre Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness is located east of Portland, OR within the Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area and Mt. Hood National Forest. The north part of the Wilderness has features characteristic of the Columbia River Gorge, including basalt cliffs and multiple waterfalls. As you climb from the river, the steep cliffs and waterfalls give way to panoramic views of the Cascade Range and Columbia River Gorge. The slopes rise from near sea level to the Benson Plateau and on to mountain peaks, talus slopes, and lakes. Elevations range from approximately 100 feet near the Columbia River to 4,900 feet on Mount Defiance. Some main waterways - Herman Creek, Eagle Creek, and Tanner Creek - flow north toward the river, supporting borders of western hemlock and fir.
Expansion to Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness in 2009 includes the Gorge Face and Larch Mountain additions. The Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness-Gorge Face includes the cliffs, canyons, and waterfalls from Oneonta Creek west to Viento Creek in Hood River County. The northern boundary of this addition is within one mile of the Columbia River. The Larch Mountain addition to the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness includes Multnomah Creek, Oneonta Creek canyon, and Bell Creek. These drainages contain old-growth Douglas fir and cedar.
The southwest boundary of the Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness is the Bull Run Watershed, which provides drinking water to the Portland metropolitan area. To protect the water supply the watershed is closed to public entry except for the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail which travels along the eastern edge of the watershed. Many of the 200 miles of trails follow drainages and often contain steep cliffs or drop offs near the trail and may be of concern for people uncomfortable with heights. Many of the trails are interconnected providing a number of loop opportunities.
Key Access Points
Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness is located east of Portland, Oregon. Trailheads that lead into Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness are accessed from Interstate 84 in the Columbia River Gorge, and Wahtum Lake in Mt. Hood National Forest.
Trails within Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness:
- Anthill Trail #406B
- Bear Lake Trail #413A
- Benson Spur Trail #405C
- Benson Way Trail #405B
- Benson Ruckle Trail #405A
- Casey Creek Trail #476
- Chinidere Mountain Trail #445
- Chinidere Cutoff Trail #406M
- Eagle Benson Trail #434
- Eagle Creek Trail #440
- Eagle Tanner Trail #433
- Gorton Creek Trail #408
- Green Point Ridge Trail #418
- Herman Creek Trail #406
- Herman Cutoff Trail #410
- Indian Springs Trail #435
- Mitchell Point Trail #417
- Moffet Creek Trail #430
- Mt Defiance Trail #413
- Mud Lake Trail #406A
- Nick Eaton Trail #447
- North Lake Trail #423
- Plateau Cutoff Trail #412
- Rainy Lake Trail #423A
- Rainy Wahtum Trail #409
- Ruckel Creek Trail #405
- Starvation Ridge Trail #414
- Tanner Creek Trail #431
- Tanner Cutoff Trail #448
- Warren Lake Trail #417A
- Wyeth Trail #411
Access from the south near Wahtum Lake:
Access from the north within Columbia River Gorge National Scenic Area:
- Trail/trailhead access from I-84 within the Columbia Gorge
Mt. Hood, Oregon's highest summit at 11,240 feet, is a volcano with 11 active glaciers. The top several thousand feet of the mountain is Wilderness and covered with forested slopes and alpine meadows. All climbing routes on Mt. Hood are technical, including the "easier" southside climbing route, with crevasses to cross, falling rocks, and often inclement weather. Ropes, crampons and other technical gear are necessary. Learn more about climbing Mt. Hood.
Mt. Hood still vents sulfurous steam near the summit. Much of the area's annual 150 inches of precipitation falls as snow between October and April. A forest of Douglas-fir covers much of the lower elevations, supported by an understory of Oregon grape, salal, rhododendron, and huckleberries. More than a dozen waterfalls are within the river valleys that lie in the shaded forest. Listen for the chirps and whistles of pikas and marmots on the rocky slopes at the tree line.
The very popular Timberline Trail #600 encircles the mountain for 38 miles. It crosses multiple alpine meadows and travels through the many glacial creeks and rivers that flow from the mountain flanks. Crossing the glacial creeks and rivers that do not have bridges during snowmelt in early to mid-summer, or when heavy or sustained rains fall, can be dangerous. Hikers should use caution and have a backup plan if rivers are too high to cross. Multiple trails wind their way through the Wilderness to join the Timberline Trail. Most visitors are day hikers who visit on the weekends. Hikers visiting mid-week or camping overnight generally see few other visitors. Be familiar with Mount Hood Wilderness regulations before heading out.
Key Access Points
Trailheads that access Mount Hood Wilderness:
- Burnt Lake #772 trailhead (north)
- Cast Creek, Horseshoe Ridge, Sandy River trailhead
- Castle Canyon trailhead
- Cloud Cap
- Devils Half Acre trailhead
- Elk Cove trailhead
- Hidden Lake trailhead
- Mazama trailhead
- McGee Creek trailhead
- Paradise Park trailhead
- Pinnacle Ridge trailhead
- Polallie trailhead
- Ramona Falls trailhead
- Timberline Lodge trailheads
- Vista Ridge trailhead
- West Zigzag and Cast Lake trailhead
- Zigzag Mountain trailhead
Trails within Mount Hood Wilderness:
- Barlow Butte Trail #670
- Bluegrass Ridge Trail #647
- Burnt Lake Trail #772
- Cast Creek Trail #773
- Cast Lake Trail #796
- Castle Canyon Trail #765
- Devils Half Acre Trail #482A
- Devils Tie Trail #767
- Eden Park Trail #600H
- Elk Cove Trail #631
- Elk Meadows Bluegrass Tie Trail #647B
- Elk Meadows Trail #645
- Gnarl Ridge Trail #652
- Gnarl Ridge Cut Off Trail #652A
- Hidden Lake Trail #779
- Horseshoe Ridge Trail #774
- Mazama Trail #625
- McGee Creek trail #627
- Newton Creek Trail #646
- Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000
- Palmateer Trail #482
- Paradise Park Trail #778
- Paradise Park Loop Trail #757
- Pinnacle Ridge Trail #630
- Ramona Falls Trail #797
- Sandy River Trail #770
- Tilly Jane Trail #600A
- Timberline Trail #600
- Vista Ridge Trail #626
- West Zigzag Trail #789
- Yocum Ridge Trail #771
- Zigzag Mountain Trail #775
Designated in 2009, the 36,768-acre Roaring River Wilderness is the largest Wilderness in the Mt. Hood National Forest. Located in the Roaring River Valley, a tributary of the Clackamas River, the Wilderness is named after the Roaring River. Salmon and steelhead spawn in the Roaring River and the area provides habitat for bears, cougars, mule deer, elk, spotted owls and pileated woodpeckers.
Lupine and Indian paintbrush are common wildflowers in summer. Lakes in the area include the Rock Lakes and Serene Lake, while Cache Meadow is one of the many alpine meadows.
Key Access Points
Roaring River Wilderness is located 17 miles southeast of Estacada, Oregon on the east side of OR-224.
Trails & Trailheads that access Roaring River Wilderness:
- Cache Meadow Trail #702
- Corral Springs Trail #507
- Dry Ridge Trail #518 - starts at Roaring River Campground
- Frazier Turnaround trailhead - access to Serene Lake Trail #512, Grouse Point Trail #517, and Shellrock Lake Trail #700
- Shellrock Lake Trail #700
- Rimrock Trail #704
Other trails within Roaring River Wilderness:
- Grouse Point Trail #517
- Huxley Lake Trail #521
- Serene Lake Trail #512
- Shining Lake Trail #510
The steep, forested ridges and valleys of the 62,455-acre Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness are located 55 miles southeast of Portland and about 15 miles southeast of Sandy.
While a few peaks such as Old Baldy, Salmon Butte and Huckleberry Mountain provide panoramic vistas, more typical of this area is the dense forest. In some canyons towering pockets of old-growth forest remain, protected from historic forest fires. Many unusual rock formations, such as prominent cliffs, volcanic dikes, and pinnacles add to the scenery.
Eagle Creek and Salmon River, the two major drainages in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, support healthy native fisheries.
The Salmon River Trail receives most of the recreational use in the wilderness. The trail follows the course of the river up a steep rugged gorge, and passes, but not within sight of, a series of waterfalls.
Key Access Points
Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness are located 55 miles southeast of Portland and about 15 miles southeast of Sandy.
Trails that access Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness:
From Portland via Highway 26:
- Bonanza Trail #786
- Boulder Ridge Trail #783A
- Cool Creek Trail #794
- Douglas Trail #781
- Eagle Creek Trail #501
- Green Canyon Way Trail #793A
- Hunchback Trail #793
- Kinzel Lake Trail #665
- Linney Creek Trail #499
- McIntyre Ridge Trail #782 - also accessed from Douglas Trail #783
- Salmon Butte Trail #791
- Salmon River Trail #742
From Hood River via Highway 35/US-26, or from Portland or Estacada via Highway 224:
- Old Baldy Trail #502
- Plaza Trail #783
- Plaza Lake Trail
- Eagle Creek Cutoff
Other trails within Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness:
- Salmon Mountain Trail #787 - accessed from Plaza Trail #783
- Wildcat Mountain Trail #781F - accessed from Douglas Trail #781
Wilderness Ethics
Limit the Spread of Noxious Weeds

Weed-free feed is required on all national forest lands in Oregon and Washington. Certified weed-free hay, straw, and gravel are in high demand in Oregon and throughout the western states. The State of Oregon takes an integrated weed management approach to help limit the spread of noxious weeds and protect Oregon agriculture.
Leave No Trace

The 7 Principles of Leave No Trace (LNT) is a set of ethics promoting conservation of the outdoors. LNT provides a basic framework of minimum impact practices for anyone visiting the outdoors, especially federal wilderness.
Safety is Essential

Wilderness is usually in a very remote area, far from civilization with little to no cell reception. Do you have the 10 Essentials? Do you know how to interact (or not) with wildlife? What to do if you get lost? It's critical to make sure you are prepared and plan ahead for safety.
Guns in Wilderness

Firearms are allowed in wilderness and their regulations on National Forest lands also apply to wilderness. Follow shooting regulations and ethics to protect humans, animals, and natural resources. Oregon state fishing and hunting regulations apply in all wilderness areas.
Violation of firearm and shooting prohibitions is punishable by a fine or imprisonment (16 U.S.C. 551, 18 U.S.C. 3559 and 3571).