With over 1.6 million acres, the Willamette National Forest is home to eight wilderness areas, including the popular Three Sisters Wilderness and Mt. Jefferson Wilderness, a variety of backpacking and day hiking opportunities, waterfalls, wildflowers, mountain biking trails, boating, swimming and much more! The varied landscape of high mountains, narrow canyons, cascading streams, and wooded slopes offers excellent opportunities for visitors and make the forest valuable for many purposes. Learn More About The Forest.
The Central Cascades wilderness areas of Oregon are home to iconic mountain peaks, high alpine meadows and lakes, and old growth forests. Crystal clear streams, wildflower meadows, rugged mountain views, young lava flows, and much more can be found in the Mount Jefferson, Mount Washington and Three Sisters Wilderness areas.
In an effort to preserve the natural beauty and wilderness experience for you and future visitors and to better manage recreation-related impacts, these areas will be managed with use limits, or quotas, to ensure the protection of these landscapes now and into the future. Find out what is new in 2020 and start planning your trip.
Under the Federal Lands Recreation Enhancement Act, the Willamette and Deschutes National Forests are conducting a 45-day comment period on a proposed special recreation permit fee in conjunction with a limited entry system for overnight and day use of three wilderness areas in the Central Cascades of Oregon. The public comment period begins on October 9, 2019 and continues through January 10, 2020.
Special Recreation Permit Fee proposal:
No special recreation permit fees for youth 12 and under, but a reservation in the limited entry system is required regardless of age.
Day-use permit fee $3.00 per person (required at 19 trailheads, none required at 60 trailheads)
Overnight permit fee $5.00 per person, per night in all three Wilderness areas.
We strive to offer areas in the forest where everyone can experience the many natural wonders the area has to offer. Watch our Accessible Adventure Videos
