Boulder Creek Wilderness
Small waterfalls and rapids connect the series of quiet pools that make up Boulder Creek, a tributary of the North Umpqua River. Ponderosa pines flourish on Pine Bench, near the lower end of the Wilderness, and are thought to be the largest such stand this far northwest of the crest of the Cascade Mountains. The rocky monoliths and outcroppings attract (and challenge) technical rock climbers, especially in the southern portion's Umpqua Rocks Special Interest Geologic Area. Elevations range from 1,600 feet to 5,600 feet. The Spring Fire in 1996 and the Rattle Fire in 2008 burned most of this Wilderness area. Expect rapid brush growth and persistent blowdown on the 10 miles of maintained trails in the years to come.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Oregon |
| Size | 19,918 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 43.35° N, 122.49° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 10) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground
The outline is the agency boundary simplified for display, so small parcels and inholdings may not show. The agency page has the authoritative map.
Weather by month
Large units span more than one climate. The station stands in for the center point, and the outer parts of the boundary can be warmer or colder.
Where to camp
None of the 18 federal campgrounds within ten miles sit inside the boundary. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
6 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Trails
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 82 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| North Umpqua ↗ | 66.6 | |
| Boulder Creek ↗ | 9.9 | |
| Bradley | 2.4 | |
| Skipper Lakes | 2.4 | |
| Soda Springs | 0.4 |
Lengths and allowed uses come from the Forest Service trail layer by way of Trailhead Atlas. This trail list was copied from Trailhead Atlas on November 1, 2026 and is copied again on each weekly run. Trails in plain text have no page there yet.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedRx Cold Springs
10 mi from the center point · 158 acres
- PrescribedRx Calf Nff 5 6 &7
18 mi from the center point
- PrescribedSting 6 Rx
33 mi from the center point · 42 acres
- PrescribedRx Long Prairie
44 mi from the center point · 112 acres
Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge, and is measured from the center of a boundary that may be many miles across. Check the agency page for closures.
Explore
Nearby on the other atlases
- 14.6 miMusick Guard Station ↗Cottage Grove, OR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Oregon
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Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Boulder Creek Wilderness?
19,918 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Boulder Creek Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Boulder Creek Wilderness in?
Oregon.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Boulder Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Boulder Creek Wilderness?
Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities, and the managing agency page has the permit rules. The federal campgrounds within ten miles are listed under Where to camp.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Boulder Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 43.350° N, 122.495° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Boulder Creek Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Rx Cold Springs at 10 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Boulder Creek Wilderness?
The National Register has 1 listing within 15 miles, including Musick Guard Station.
Source: Register Atlas
Sources
- Boundary, name, acreage, designation year, states and description: Wilderness Connect.
- Campgrounds: the Campsite Atlas index of federal campgrounds, matched to this boundary at build time.
- Trailheads and sites: the Forest Service Recreation Opportunities layer, points inside the boundary.
- Trails: the Trailhead Atlas open-data file of Forest Service trails, matched on the wilderness each trail enters.
- Night sky: NASA Black Marble (VIIRS, 2016 composite) sampled at zoom 6 around the center point.
- Weather, alerts, air quality, river flow and earthquakes load live in your browser from NWS, AirNow, USGS and iNaturalist when you open the page.