Black Canyon Wilderness is a protected area in Oregon’s Ochoco National Forest within the South Fork John Day River basin, established in 1984 and encompassing 13,400 acres in Grant and Wheeler counties near Paulina. Known for its steep, rugged terrain, it rises from about 2,850 to 6,483 feet, with most of the land sloping more than 30 percent. Developed trails cross sharp ridges and deep canyons carved through basalt lava. The wilderness includes diverse plant communities, from sagebrush to pine, juniper, mahogany, and fir, supporting nearly 300 wildlife species, while perennial streams provide spawning habitat for steelhead trout.