Mount Washington Wilderness was created in 1964 and it now has a total of 52,738 acres. All of the wilderness is in Oregon. This Wilderness Area is situated across two national forests,
Deschutes National Forest &
Willamette National Forest, in the
Cascade Mountains. A geological wonderland of rugged terrain topped by jagged peaks includes, near its center, the 6,872-foot cinder and ash cone of Belknap Crater, whose eruptions created one of the largest sheets of lava in the United States. Only
McKenzie Pass - State Rt. 242 separates Mount Washington Wilderness from
Three Sisters Wilderness to the south. The primary trail through this area is 16.6 miles of the
Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail.
Tenas Lake and Benson Lake in the southwest corner receive substantial human use, as does Patjens Lake in the north. All three lakes are accessible via short trails.
For area restrictions, please use the contact info below:
McKenzie River Ranger District (Mailing address)
57600 McKenzie HWY
MCKENZIE BRIDGE, OR 97413
Phone: 541-822-3381
Sisters Ranger District (Mailing address)
PO Box 249
SISTERS, OR 97759
Phone: 541-549-7700
