Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness
This Wilderness is a maze of deep, sheer-walled canyons that cut into what was once a flat and expansive plateau at the northernmost reach of the Blue Mountains located in Northeast Oregon and Southeast Washington. The plateau has since eroded into long ridge tops and wide, forest-covered mesas that now stand as much as 2,000 feet above the drainages. Following ridges will often bring you to a bluff line that fall away vertically into a confluence of drainages. Much of the area's water runs south into Oregon's Wild and Scenic Wenaha River, although some of it slips north into Washington's Tucannon River.
Description from Wilderness Connect (wilderness.net).
| Designation | Wilderness |
| Managed by | U.S. Forest Service |
| States | Oregon, Washington |
| Size | 176,737 acres |
| Designated | 1978, by Congress |
| Center point | 46.03° N, 117.72° 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 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.
Trailheads and sites
The Forest Service lists 2 recreation sites inside this wilderness, among them 2 trailheads. Each links to its page on fs.usda.gov, which carries the season, fees and current status.
- 8 miElk Flats Trailhead ↗Trailhead
- 10 miPanjab Trailhead ↗Trailhead · June
Distance is from the center point of the boundary, not from a road or town.
Fire nearby
- WildfireParadise
12 mi from the center point · 9,656 acres · 86% contained
- PrescribedWwrd 2026 Fall Pile Rx
25 mi from the center point
- PrescribedStarvation 11A Rx
32 mi from the center point · 719 acres
- PrescribedSumac 2A Rx
33 mi from the center point · 417 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
- 2.1 miHoodoo Ridge Lookout ↗Troy, OR
- 10 miGrande Ronde River Bridge ↗Asotin, WA
- 12.7 miDixie High School ↗Dixie, WA
- 14 miCloverland Garage ↗Cloverland, WA
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 Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness?
176,737 acres.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Who manages Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness?
The U.S. Forest Service.
Source: Wilderness Connect
What state is Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness in?
The boundary crosses Oregon and Washington.
Source: Wilderness Connect
When was Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness designated?
Congress designated it in 1978.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Can I camp at Wenaha-Tucannon 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 Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness?
A point inside the boundary is at 46.028° N, 117.722° W. Whitman Mission National Historic Site is 25 miles away. The official page carries directions and the office address.
Source: Wilderness Connect
Is there a fire near Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness right now?
4 active incidents within 50 miles as of 2026-11-01, the nearest Paradise at 12 miles. Distance is to the reported incident point, not the fire edge.
Source: Fire nearby
Which national parks are near Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness?
Whitman Mission National Historic Site (25 mi). Park Atlas has fees, hours and alerts for each.
Source: Nearby on the other atlases
Are there historic places near Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness?
The National Register has 4 listings within 15 miles, including Hoodoo Ridge Lookout and Grande Ronde River Bridge.
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.