Mountain Lakes Wilderness
Before its eruption and subsequent transformation into a large caldera (a broad, craterlike basin formed by volcanic violence), the area we call Mountain Lakes Wilderness was a 12,000-foot mountain, one of the giants of the southern Cascades. Glaciation then carved up the caldera, leaving a scattering of small alpine lakes instead of one enormous body of water, such as Crater Lake National Park to the north. Only eight prominent peaks remain of the caldera's rim. Long appreciated for its wonder, Mountain Lakes was one of the three original Primitive areas created in 1930 in the Washington-Oregon region. Unique to the National Wilderness Preservation System, this area is the only Wilderness with a perfectly square boundary.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Oregon |
| Size | 23,036 acres |
| Designated | 1964, by Congress |
| Center point | 42.34° N, 122.11° W |
| 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.
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 7 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
5 named Forest Service trails enter this wilderness, 25 miles in all.
| Trail | Miles | Allowed uses |
|---|---|---|
| Mountain Lakes Loop ↗ | 8.2 | |
| Mountain Lakes ↗ | 6.3 | |
| Varney Creek | 4.4 | |
| Clover Creek | 4.3 | |
| South Pass Lake | 1.9 |
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
- PrescribedGoodlow Piles Rx
47 mi from the center point
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
- 3 miLake of the Woods Ranger Station--Work Center ↗Klamath Falls, OR
- 5.8 miPoint Comfort Lodge ↗Klamath Falls, OR
- 7.6 miFish Lake Shelter ↗Ashland, OR
- 9.7 miBig Elk Guard Station ↗Ashland, OR
- 11.5 miWillow Prairie Cabin ↗Butte Falls, OR
- 13.6 miParsons, Reginald, Dead Indian Lodge ↗Ashland, OR
- 14.2 miRichardson--Ulrich House ↗Klamath Falls, OR
- 14.5 miDead Indian Soda Springs Shelter ↗Eagle Point, OR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Guidebooks for Oregon
We earn a small commission if you buy through these links. It does not change what we list.
Titles come from Open Library's catalog, matched by subject heading or by title.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Mountain Lakes Wilderness?
23,036 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Mountain Lakes Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Mountain Lakes Wilderness in?
Oregon.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Mountain Lakes Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1964.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Mountain Lakes 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 Mountain Lakes Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 42.344° N, 122.110° W. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Mountain Lakes Wilderness right now?
1 active incident within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Goodlow Piles Rx at 47 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Are there historic places near Mountain Lakes Wilderness?
The National Register has 18 listings within 15 miles, including Lake of the Woods Ranger Station--Work Center and Point Comfort Lodge.
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.