North Fork Umatilla Wilderness
Instead of rising into high peaks, to offer a somewhat unique Wilderness experience the gently sloping hills of North Fork Umatilla Wilderness fall into extremely steep, timbered canyons below a high plateau. Down along the river you'll probably feel more isolated than the small acreage of the area would indicate. Vegetation ranges from juniper, sagebrush, and ponderosa pine to fir, spruce, lodgepole pine, and western larch. The North Fork Umatilla River supports populations of bull trout as well as runs of anadromous fish, including steelhead, a major force in pushing for designation of this area as well as an attraction to anglers. However, the river is designated catch and release only.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Oregon |
| Size | 20,213 acres |
| Designated | 1984, by Congress |
| Center point | 45.72° N, 118.14° W |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 11) |
Boundary map
Boundary, simplified to about 0.005 degrees Federal campground Forest Service recreation site
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 6 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.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site inside this wilderness, among them 1 trailhead. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 3 miCorporation / Lick Creek Trailhead ↗Trailhead · May to November
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- PrescribedWwrd 2026 Fall Pile Rx
4 mi from the center point
- WildfireHagen
6 mi from the center point · 61,380 acres · 99% contained
- WildfireNorth Cayuse
17 mi from the center point · 4,887 acres · 97% contained
- WildfireParadise
21 mi from the center point · 9,656 acres · 86% 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
- 10.7 miWeston School ↗Weston, OR
- 10.7 miWinn Barn ↗Weston, OR
- 10.8 miWeston Commercial Historic District ↗Weston, OR
- 10.8 miDry Creek School ↗Summerville, OR
- 10.9 miSaling, Isham, House ↗Weston, OR
- 12.4 miElgin City Hall and Opera House ↗Elgin, OR
- 13.6 miFrazier, Williams, Farmstead ↗Milton-Freewater, OR
- 13.8 miWatts, M. L., House ↗Athena, 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 North Fork Umatilla Wilderness?
20,213 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages North Fork Umatilla Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is North Fork Umatilla Wilderness in?
Oregon.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was North Fork Umatilla Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1984.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at North Fork Umatilla 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 North Fork Umatilla Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 45.722° N, 118.140° W. Whitman Mission National Historic Site is 23 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near North Fork Umatilla Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Wwrd 2026 Fall Pile Rx at 4 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near North Fork Umatilla Wilderness?
Whitman Mission National Historic Site (23 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near North Fork Umatilla Wilderness?
The National Register has 12 listings within 15 miles, including Weston School and Winn Barn.
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.