Mount Washington Wilderness
This geological wonderland of rugged terrain topped by jagged peaks includes, near its center, the 6,872-foot cinder and ash cone of Belknap Crater, whose eruptions created one of the largest sheets of...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Oregon |
| Size | 54,406 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 44.3048, -121.8770 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 9) |
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. 30 are within ten miles of it. Nearest first. Distances are from the campground point to the boundary edge, from the Campsite Atlas index.
Show 4 moreHide
18 more within ten miles are not listed here.
Fire nearby
- WildfireBench
34 mi from the center point · 67,071 acres · 90% contained
- WildfireAustin
50 mi from the center point · 12,881 acres · 87% 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
- 2.9 miSantiam Pass Ski Lodge ↗Sisters, OR
- 9 miCamp Sherman Community Hall ↗Camp Sherman, OR
- 10.4 miLog Cabin Inn Ensemble ↗McKenzie Bridge, OR
- 10.9 miSisters High School ↗Sisters, OR
- 13.8 miBelknap Bridge ↗Rainbow, OR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mount Washington Wilderness?
54,406 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mount Washington Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mount Washington Wilderness in?
Oregon.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mount Washington Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1964.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mount Washington Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Lava Lake Campground, 0.2 miles out. 30 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 Mount Washington Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 44.305, -121.877. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mount Washington Wilderness right now?
2 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Bench at 34 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Mount Washington Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 9 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 Mount Washington Wilderness?
5 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Santiam Pass Ski Lodge and Camp Sherman Community Hall.
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.