Mt. Hood National Forest

Mt. Hood National Forest extends south from the strikingly beautiful Columbia River Gorge across more than a million acres of forested mountains, lakes and streams, and, of course, iconic Mt. Hood.

Photo credit: USDA Forest Service

The Cascade Range Forest Reserve was established in 1893, and divided into several National Forests in 1908, when the northern portion was merged with the Bull Run Reserve (city watershed) and named Oregon National Forest. The name was changed again to Mount Hood National Forest in 1924. Located twenty miles east of the city of Portland, Oregon and the northern Willamette River valley, the Mt. Hood National Forest extends south from the strikingly beautiful Columbia River Gorge across more than sixty miles of forested mountains, lakes and streams to Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes of Mt. Jefferson.

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Wilderness Areas/Wild & Scenic Rivers

Badger Creek Wilderness - 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.

Bull of the Woods Wilderness - Located 70 miles southeast of Portland and 65 miles east of Salem, the 36,731 acre Bull of the Woods Wilderness is relatively isolated.

Clackamas Wilderness - 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.

Lower White River Wilderness - The White River rises in the high Cascades in western Wasco County, in the Mount Hood National Forest on the southeast side of Mount Hood.

Mark O. Hatfield Wilderness - 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.

Mount Hood Wilderness - More than 10,000 climbers a year come seeking the top of the state, making Mount Hood's summit the most visited snow covered peak in America.

Roaring River Wilderness - Salmon and steelhead spawn in the Roaring River and the area provides habitat for bears, cougars, mule deer, elk, spotted owls and pileated woodpeckers.

Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness - 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.

Invasive Species