North Fork John Day Wilderness: Umatilla

From rolling benchlands to the granite outcrops of the Greenhorn Mountains, the rugged North Fork John Day Wilderness provides an abundance of natural diversity. The wilderness is known primarily for its big game (Rocky Mountain elk and mule deer) and its anadromous fish habitat. There are over 130 miles of perennial streams, 40 miles of which provide spawning habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead.

The wilderness was established by the Oregon Wilderness Act of 1984. Its 121,560 acres include 85,000 acres in the North Fork John Day drainage and three smaller satellites: the Greenhorn and Tower Mountain Units, and the Baldy Creek Unit on the Wallowa-Whitman National Forest. Six thousand acres of the Vinegar Hill-Indian Rock Scenic Area are also included. In 1988, a 39-mile segment of the North Fork John Day River was designated as a Wild and Scenic River.

The North Fork John Day Wilderness is located southeast of Ukiah, Oregon and northwest of Baker City, Oregon. The small town of Granite lies close to the eastern wilderness boundary. Over 100 miles of trails serving this area are popular for both hiking and horseback riding. The nature of the area provides long-distance trips with significant elevation changes. The area is accessible from early spring to late fall from several trail heads located around its perimeter.

The North Fork John Day drainage was a bustling gold and silver mining area in the middle to late 1800's. Old mining structures, building foundations, waterworn rock, dredged ditches, and other traces are still visible of people who removed an estimated $10 million in gold and silver.

• Key access points: Trailhead and trail information

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General Information

Trailheads/trails that access North Fork John Day Wilderness at Umatilla National Forest

• Basin Trailhead– provides access to Basin Creek Trail #3006.
• Big Creek Trailhead- provides access to Big Creek Trail #3151, Corral Creek Trail #3009, North Fork John Day River Trail #3022.  South Winom Trail joins the Big Creek Trail about 1/5 miles north of the trailhead. 
• Big Creek Meadows Campground & Trailhead- provides access to Big Creek Trail #3151, Tower Mountain Trail #3156.
• Crane Creek Trailhead- provides access to Crane Creek Trail #3011, North Crane Trail #3171.
• Forks Trailhead- provides access to Forks Trail #3019.
• Glade Creek/Cold Springs Trailhead- provides access to Cold Spring Trail #3008, Glade Creek Trail #3014.
• Granite Creek Trailhead- provides access to Granite Creek Trail #3016.
• Lake Creek Trailhead- provides access to Lake Creek Trail #3018.
• Lost Creek Trailhead– provides access to Lost Creek Trail #3002, Saddle Camp Trail #3035.
• Lost Lake Trailhead (area is unavailable)– provides access to Lost Lake Trail #3020, Lake Creek Trail #3018.
• Miner’s Cabin Trailhead– provides access to Miner’s Cabin Trail #3186.
• Moon Meadows Trailhead- provides access to Moon Meadow Trail #3042, Packsaddle Trail 3029, Silver Butte Trail #3025, and Forks Trail # 3019 (southern end). 
• North Fork John Day Trailhead- provides access to North Fork John Day River Trail #3022.
• North and South Winom Trailheads & Campground- provides access to South Winom Creek Trail #3153, North Winom Creek Trail #3160.
• Pack Saddle Trailhead- provides access to Pack Saddle Trail #3029.
• Winom Creek Campground and Trailhead- provides access to South Winom Creek Trail #3153, North Winom Creek Trail #3160.

See also: 

• Wallowa-Whitman National Forest North Fork John Day Wilderness information.

Topo Maps

Anthony Lakes, Bourne, Crawfish Lake, Desolation Butte, Granite, Kelsay Butte, Mt. Ireland, Olive Lake, Pearson Ridge, Silver Butte, The Cockscomb, Tower Mountain, Trout Meadows, Vinegar Hill. Download free U.S. Forest Service Topo maps.

Buy maps online

Go to the National Forest Store.

Wilderness.net

Go to Wilderness.net for online maps and other important Wilderness information.

Other trails within North Fork John Day Wilderness at Umatilla National Forest

• Ben Harrison Trail #3173
• Cable Creek Trail #3152
• Cougar Creek Trail
• Corral Connection Trail #3050
• Fitzwater Trail #3010
• Paradise Trail #3023
• Silver Butte Trail #3025
• Silver Hill Trail #3033
• Wagner Gulch Trail #3031