Gearhart Mountain Wilderness
At 8,364 feet, Gearhart Mountain stands higher than all the other volcanic domes in this Wilderness of high mountain meadows, cirques, and U-shaped valleys. Picturesque rock formations cap most of the...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Oregon |
| Size | 22,614 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 42.5111, -120.8508 |
| 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.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 10 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedMitten Springs Rx
7 mi from the center point
- WildfireWrights Spring
45 mi from the center point · 55,134 acres · 98% contained
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
- 9.1 miBly Ranger Station ↗Bly, OR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Gearhart Mountain Wilderness?
22,614 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Gearhart Mountain Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Gearhart Mountain Wilderness in?
Oregon.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Gearhart Mountain Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1964.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Gearhart Mountain Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Sandhill Crossing Campground, 0.5 miles out. 10 in all are within ten miles. Camping inside a wilderness is usually allowed away from roads, with no facilities; the managing agency page has the permit rules.
Source: Where to camp
How do I get to Gearhart Mountain Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 42.511, -120.851. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Gearhart Mountain Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Mitten Springs Rx at 7 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Gearhart Mountain Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 10 on a 0 to 255 scale at the center point, about as dark as the ground gets.
Source: NASA Black Marble
Are there historic places near Gearhart Mountain Wilderness?
1 National Register listing within 15 miles, including Bly Ranger 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.
- 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.