Opal Creek Wilderness
Opal Creek Wilderness features steep and rugged forested hillsides. The eastern portion of the area encompasses the headwaters of two major creeks (Battle Axe Creek and Opal Creek) which join to become...
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net), where the full text continues.
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| State | Oregon |
| Size | 20,777 acres (Wilderness Connect) |
| Designated | 1996, by Congress |
| Center point | 44.8417, -122.1664 |
| Night sky | About as dark as the ground gets (Black Marble reading 7) |
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.
Where to camp
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. 16 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
4 more within ten miles are not listed here.
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.
- 5 miFrench Creek Trailhead - West ↗Trailhead
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- WildfireAustin
17 mi from the center point · 12,881 acres · 87% contained
- WildfireThe Narrows
21 mi from the center point · 305 acres · 98% contained
- WildfireBench
43 mi from the center point · 67,071 acres · 90% contained
- WildfireGrasshopper
43 mi from the center point · 93,996 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
- 4 miBagby Guard Station ↗Estacada, OR
- 8.8 miHinkle--Reid House ↗Mill City, OR
- 9.1 miMill City Southern Pacific Rail Road (sprr) Bridge ↗Mill City, OR
Landmarks are listed first, then by distance from the boundary.
Reference
Questions people ask
How big is Opal Creek Wilderness?
20,777 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Opal Creek Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Opal Creek Wilderness in?
Oregon.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Opal Creek Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1996.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Opal Creek Wilderness?
No federal campground sits inside the boundary. The nearest is Shady Cove, 0.2 miles out. 16 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
Where are the trailheads in Opal Creek Wilderness?
The Forest Service lists 1 recreation site here, including 1 trailhead. Each one links to its Forest Service page.
Source: Trailheads and sites
How do I get to Opal Creek Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 44.842, -122.166. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Opal Creek Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-09-17, the nearest Austin at 17 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
How dark is the night sky at Opal Creek Wilderness?
NASA’s Black Marble night-lights image reads 7 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 Opal Creek Wilderness?
3 National Register listings within 15 miles, including Bagby Guard Station and Hinkle--Reid House.
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.