Lower White River Wilderness
The White River originates on Mt. Hood, at the leading edge of the White River Glacier. As the glacier melts in late summer, it releases large amounts of silt which gives the river the milky appearance for which it is named. The Lower White River Wilderness is located approximately mid-way between the river's source and it's end where it enters the Deschutes River. It is in a transition area from mixed conifer forest to arid steppe, and centered on a deep and rugged gorge which, as it descends, holds onto firs and pines on north facing slopes while south facing slopes become dominated by junipers and oaks. The river is home to the genetically distinct White River race of redband rainbow trout.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Oregon |
| Size | 2,871 acres |
| Designated | 2009, by Congress |
| Center point | 45.15° N, 121.48° 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 12 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.
Trails
2 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 11 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| McCubbins Tr #576B: Maze Loop ↗ | 7 | |
| Camas | 3.9 |
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
- PrescribedCamp Cody Rx - East
7 mi from the center point · 32 acres
- WildfireGrasshopper
8 mi from the center point · 93,972 acres · 98% contained
- PrescribedStone Ck/Clackamas Guard Station Rx Piles- West
14 mi from the center point
- PrescribedWard Pile Rx - East
18 mi from the center point · 29 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
- 13 miMaupin Section Foreman's House ↗Maupin, OR
- 14.1 mi
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 Lower White River Wilderness?
2,871 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Lower White River Wilderness?
Bureau of Land Management and U.S. Forest Service share management. The Bureau of Land Management portion is the largest in the wilderness record.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Lower White River Wilderness in?
Oregon.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Lower White River Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 2009.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Lower White River 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 Lower White River Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 45.146° N, 121.480° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Lower White River Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Camp Cody Rx - East at 7 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Lower White River Wilderness?
The National Register has 2 listings within 15 miles, including Maupin Section Foreman's House and Wasco Warehouse & Milling Company Hydroelectric Project Historic District.
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.