Go Wild!

On September 3, 1964, President Lyndon B. Johnson signed into law the Wilderness Act, a landmark conservation bill that protects nearly 110 million acres from coast to coast. The Wilderness Act defined “wilderness” as areas where the earth and its communities of life are left unchanged by people, where the primary forces of nature are in control, and where people themselves are visitors who do not remain.

The Eugene, Cascades & Coast region touches six Wilderness preserves. There are different rules regarding access and activities in the Wilderness, so be familiar with the proper protocols before exploring. Each area may have specific and unique guidelines.

Permits & Passes

In the Siuslaw National Forest, general Wilderness guidelines include keeping groups small, staying only for day use or just a few nights, camping away from waterways, packing out what you bring in, using camp stoves instead of camp fires. Dogs are discouraged, and must be kept on leash or under voice control. Drone flying and motorized transport is prohibited.

In the Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest special wilderness permits are required between June 15 - October 15. For the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington and Three Sisters Wilderness, these must be purchased online in advance. All other Wilderness permits may be self-issued at the trailheads and are free.

In addition to Wilderness permits, day or annual passes are often required for trailheads and day-use areas on Federal lands. These may include the Northwest Forest Pass, the Oregon Pacific Coast Passport and the Interagency passes, all which may be purchased online in advance. Day-use may be paid for on-site at some locations.

Day-use sites managed by the Forest Service waive their fees for special dates (third-party site managed parks are not included). These dates include Martin Luther King Jr. Day, Presidents' Day, Memorial Day, National Trails Day, National Get Outdoors Day, Independence Day, Constitution Day, National Public Lands Day, Theodore Roosevelt's Birthday and Veterans Day. All fourth graders can apply for a free one-year pass.

For help understanding passes on Federal lands in Lane County, visit or call our Eugene, Cascades & Coast Visitor Center at 541.484.5307. We sell only the annual Northwest Forest Pass and are not able to honor discounts.

Explore the Wilderness

Use the Adventure Checklist to prepare. Always have a plan and leave a copy with a friend. Remember to have your maps printed or downloaded as there will not be cell service in most areas. See the Wilderness locations below:

Coast Range

1. Cummins Creek Wilderness

We’ll start our journey of Wilderness Wonders on the Oregon Coast. The Cummins Creek Wilderness is a feast for your eyes and feet. Located in the Siuslaw National Forest, this area is unique because it is where the wilderness connects to the ocean. That proximity creates unique ecosystems and climates where wildlife move from shore to the forest and back again within these wilderness watersheds. Bob Creek and Cummins Creek flow from the wilderness into the ocean. Flanked by Cape Perpetua Scenic Area and Neptune State Park, the Cummins Ridge Trail (5.8 miles / 9.33 km long) ascends more than 1,000 feet (304.8 m) through towering Sitka spruce, Western hemlock and Douglas firs in the Coast Range. This area is also home to the only old-growth Sitka Spruce forest in the entire Oregon wilderness system.

Getting there: This area is accessible from Highway 101, 15 miles (24 km) north of Florence, Oregon. From Highway 101, turn east on Tenmile Creek Road (Forest Service Rd 5210), drive carefully and after 1.9 miles (3.05 km), make a left turn on Forest Service Rd 5694. After 7.7 miles (12.39 km) turn left on Forest Service Rd 515 for 0.2 miles (.32 km) to Cummins Ridge East Trailhead.

2. Rock Creek Wilderness

Just like the Cummins Creek Wilderness, the Rock Creek Wilderness is a remote area within the Siuslaw National Forest in Oregon’s Coast Range. There are no developed trails, but two streams — Rock Creek and Big Creek — flow through Sitka spruce forests. Stick to the nearby campground, or explore the wilderness cautiously.

Getting there: From Florence, head 15 miles (24 km) north along Hwy 101. Turn right onto Big Creek Rd/National Forest (Forest Service)-57. From Newport, follow Hwy 101 for 34.5 miles (55.5 km) south. Turn left onto Big Creek Rd/NF-57.

Cascade Mountains

3. Diamond Peak Wilderness

The Diamond Peak Wilderness is the southernmost wilderness in the Eugene, Cascades & Coast region above Oakridge in the Willamette National Forest and Deschutes National Forest. Diamond Peak was formed as the entire land mass of the Cascades was undergoing volcanic activity. Glaciers carved the large volcanic peak and when they receded, much of the mountain remained. About 14 miles (22.5 km) of the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail pass through the Diamond Peak Wilderness.

Getting there: There are several places to enter the Diamond Peak Wilderness, all along Hwy 58, which connects I-5 near Eugene to U.S. Route 97. Take Hwy 58 to the Pengra Pass trailhead, to Forest Service Rd 23 or Rd 2149. Hwy 58 to Forest Service Rd 5810 to the Yoran Trailhead. Hwy 58 to Forest Service Rd 60 to the Whitefish, Fawn Lake and Windy-Oldenburg Trailheads. Hwy 58 to Forest Service Rd 60 to Forest Service Rd 6010 to the Snell Lake and Summit Lake Trailheads.

4. Waldo Lake Wilderness

The Waldo Lake Wilderness is just north of the Diamond Peak Wilderness, above Oakridge in the Willamette National Forest. (Due to 2022 wildfires, some sections and trails may still be impacted as the area recovers.) Within the wilderness area, there is an impressive array of trout-filled lakes scattered throughout the 37,162-acre (15038.9 ha) Wilderness. A system of 84 miles (135 km) of trails leads to many of the lakes, including Six Lakes and Wahanna Lakes, the most popular hikes in the area.

But don’t let the name fool you — Waldo Lake itself is just outside of the eastern boundary of the Wilderness and not included in this territory. But that doesn’t mean Waldo Lake isn’t worthy of exploring. Formed by glaciers 10,000 years ago, Waldo Lake is Oregon’s second largest natural lake and one of the purest lakes in the world — some rank it third. Filled by springs and snow melt, Waldo Lake harbors very little plankton, and only fish were stocked until 1991. The lake bottom can be visible on a calm day through 100 ft (30 m) of indigo water.

Getting there: Take Hwy 58 to Oakridge. Trailhead access off Forest Service Roads 24 (Salmon Creek Road), 19 and 5897.

5. Three Sisters Wilderness

Just north of Waldo Lake, you’ll find the Three Sisters Wilderness in the Deschutes National Forest. This is one of the most accessible and scenic areas on the list. North, Middle and South Sister, all more than 10,000 feet (3,048 m) high, and Broken Top inspire hikers and climbers to push their bodies to the limits with their 260 miles (418 km) of trails and jaw-dropping views. Most of the trails begin in Douglas fir-rich forest and climb to alpine meadows that lead to glacial and volcanic peaks.

Getting there: Take Highway 126 east toward the McKenzie River. From Sisters or Highway 242, take Forest Service Rds 15 and 16. There are many trailheads throughout the Three Sisters Wilderness.

6. Mount Washington Wilderness

Heading north, hike or mountain bike the Mount Washington Wilderness, a geological wonder in the Willamette National Forest. Explore 75 square miles of lava-strewn plains, Mt. Washington, Belknap Crater and a 16-mile portion of the Pacific Crest Trail. Visit Dee Wright Observatory, where a manmade hut at the summit of McKenzie Pass is made entirely of lava.

Getting there: From the south, take State Hwy 242 (McKenzie Pass Scenic Byway). Pacific Trail #2000 is to the west of Dee Wright Observatory. Benson Lake Trail #3502 and Hand Lake Trail #3513 are off Scott Lake Road 260.

More Oregon Wilderness

We aren’t the only Oregon region with wildly beautiful wilderness. Explore all 47 of Oregon’s wilderness areas. For a complete list of required passes for trailheads, go to the National Forest Service’s Recreation Passes & Permits page.