Mountain Lakes Wilderness

Located in the Winema National Forest in Oregon.

A real treasure, this area was one of the original three Forest Service primitive areas in Region 6(Washington and Oregon). On October 30 1930, Mountain Lakes Primitive Area, Mt. Jefferson PrimitiveArea and Eagle Cap Primitive Area were approved by Robert Y. Stuart, the Region's Chief Forester atthat time. Ten years later the Mountain Lakes Primitive Area was increased from its original 13,444acres to its present 23,071 acres and was reclassified as a Wild Area. It then encompassed exactly onetownship as it does today. With the passage of the 1964 Wilderness Act, Mountain Lakes became one ofthe original wildernesses. Like all wilderness areas, Mountain Lakes is managed to provide anopportunity for the visitor to experience solitude and a primitive recreation challenge while preserving theecosystem as a wilderness for future visitors.

It is the only square wilderness in the National Wilderness Preservation System (NWPS) and shares asimilar geologic history with its neighbor to the north, Crater Lake National Park. Mountain Lakes is alarge caldera or broad crater-like basin formed by the explosion or collapse of a volcanic cone. Originally,a 12,000 foot peak dominated the area ranking as one of the giants of the southern Cascades. Its collapsecreated the area now known as Mountain Lakes Wilderness. The eight prominent peaks are all thatremain of the once surrounding rim. Glaciation then played its part in carrying drainages. The result isthat many smaller lakes were formed in the area instead of one large lake filling the caldera as happenedat Crater Lake. Each of these beautiful alpine lakes has its own personality and unique environmentalsetting.

Mountain Lakes Wilderness is easily accessible from three directions. The Clover Creek Trail from thesouth is only 4.0 miles long. The Mountain Lakes Trail from the west is 6.5 miles; the Varney CreekTrail from the north is 4.5 miles long. These trails are all connected in the wilderness interior by the 10.5mile Mountain Lakes Loop Trail which climbs from the sparkling blue lakes and winds along thesouthern caldera rim. Two other trails, Moss Creek Trail and South Pass Trail provide access to theeastern wilderness areas from the Mountain Lakes Loop. There is no access from the private lands thatborder the wilderness on the east. Your cooperation in the efforts to let the eastern ends of the MossCreek and South Pass trails return to nature is appreciated.

Hiking in the Mountain Lakes Wilderness varies from easily traversed broad valleys and lake basins to steep,rugged climbs. Those not used to hiking should not plan on covering more than five to ten miles a day.

The summer recreation season use usually begins in late June after the winter snowpack melts and the trailsbegin to dry. In early July, the flowers are blooming, the fish are jumping, and the days are warm and blue.The weekdays presently offer more opportunity to enjoy the tranquil solitude of the wilderness than theweekend days. Holiday weekends are the most crowded. The snow storms of October bring the summerseason to a close. Cross country skiing is becoming a more popular winter activity on the lower portions ofthe wilderness trails. However, these trails are not signed for skiing, so caution is advised.

Summer temperatures range from highs in the high 80's to lows below freezing. Commonly the summer highsare 70-80 degrees Fahrenheit, with lows of 40-50 degrees. Thundershowers are a common summer pattern,and it can snow in any month, so be sure to check the local weather before setting out.

Fish species are stocked in Mountain Lakes Wilderness lakes every other year. Both brook and rainbow troutare stocked in Harriette, Como, and West Lakes. Mystic, Paragon, and South Pass Lakes are only stockedwith brook trout.

For further information contact: The Winema National Forest.