Middle Santiam Wilderness

The Middle Santiam Wilderness protects an upper Middle Santiam landscape in Oregon’s central Cascade Range within the Willamette National Forest, near Mount Washington. Its terrain shifts from gentler bench-like lower lands and river valleys to steep slopes, ridgelines, and peaks at higher elevations. Notable features include Donaca Lake, the Middle Santiam River, and Chimney Peak, a 4,965-foot lava plug in the northwest; the Menagerie Wilderness lies just south. Much of the area is covered in mature old-growth forest, including stands about 450 years old and roughly 200 feet tall. It also preserves native fish habitat, with Chinook salmon present during spawning season.

Detroit, Oregon · United States