Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness
Encyclopedia
The Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness is a wilderness area located on the southern side of Mount Hood
in the northwestern Cascades of Oregon
, United States
. It lies within the Mount Hood National Forest
and comprises 61340 acres (24,823.4 ha) of land. The US Congress designated the area Wilderness in 1984.
The ridges in the Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness belong to the Old Cascades, a broad volcanic mountain range that erupted 10 million years before the High Cascades. Devils Peak and Salmon Butte are likely remnants of once-tall volcanoes, but have been reduced to ridges by the millennia of ice and water erosion. The wilderness contains several U-shaped valleys formed by glacial
activity.
The drainages of the South Fork Salmon River and Eagle Creek are found in the Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness, and volcanic plugs, pinnacles, and cliffs distinguish the area's sharply dissected ridges. Much of the water in the area runs off Huckleberry Mountain in the northern portion of the Wilderness. To the south is Salmon Butte, a 4877 feet (1,486.5 m) butte
that can be hiked via a trail to the top.
, and western hemlock
, including some old growth. Rare Alaska cedar grow on the fringes of meadows along the Salmon River. Huckleberries
grow in abundance in several areas of the wilderness, including Huckleberry Mountain.
, a designated Wild and Scenic River, both provide excellent habitat for steelhead, chinook
and coho salmon
, as well as wild cutthroat trout
. Mule deer
and black bears
find winter range in the area's rugged lower canyons.
, which follows the Salmon River beyond the wilderness boundary.
Mount Hood
Mount Hood, called Wy'east by the Multnomah tribe, is a stratovolcano in the Cascade Volcanic Arc of northern Oregon. It was formed by a subduction zone and rests in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States...
in the northwestern Cascades of Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
. It lies within the Mount Hood National Forest
Mount Hood National Forest
The Mount Hood National Forest is located east of the city of Portland, Oregon, and the northern Willamette River valley. The Forest extends south from the Columbia River Gorge across more than of forested mountains, lakes and streams to the Olallie Scenic Area, a high lake basin under the slopes...
and comprises 61340 acres (24,823.4 ha) of land. The US Congress designated the area Wilderness in 1984.
Geography
Glacier
A glacier is a large persistent body of ice that forms where the accumulation of snow exceeds its ablation over many years, often centuries. At least 0.1 km² in area and 50 m thick, but often much larger, a glacier slowly deforms and flows due to stresses induced by its weight...
activity.
The drainages of the South Fork Salmon River and Eagle Creek are found in the Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness, and volcanic plugs, pinnacles, and cliffs distinguish the area's sharply dissected ridges. Much of the water in the area runs off Huckleberry Mountain in the northern portion of the Wilderness. To the south is Salmon Butte, a 4877 feet (1,486.5 m) butte
Butte
A butte is a conspicuous isolated hill with steep, often vertical sides and a small, relatively flat top; it is smaller than mesas, plateaus, and table landform tables. In some regions, such as the north central and northwestern United States, the word is used for any hill...
that can be hiked via a trail to the top.
Vegetation
The Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness is covered in a dense rain forest of Douglas fir, true firs, western red cedar, red alderRed Alder
Alnus rubra, the Red alder, is a deciduous broadleaf tree native to western North America.-Description:It is the largest species of alder in North America and one of the largest in the world, reaching heights of 20–35 m. The official tallest red alder stands 32 meters tall in Clatsop County, Oregon...
, and western hemlock
Western Hemlock
Tsuga heterophylla. the Western Hemlock, is a species of hemlock native to the west coast of North America, with its northwestern limit on the Kenai Peninsula, Alaska, and its southeastern limit in northern Sonoma County, California.-Habitat:...
, including some old growth. Rare Alaska cedar grow on the fringes of meadows along the Salmon River. Huckleberries
Huckleberry
Huckleberry is a common name used in North America for several species of plants in two closely related genera in the family Ericaceae:* Vaccinium* GaylussaciaHuckleberry may also refer to:-Plants:...
grow in abundance in several areas of the wilderness, including Huckleberry Mountain.
Wildlife
Eagle Creek and the Salmon RiverSalmon River (Clackamas County, Oregon)
The Salmon River is a 33.9 mile river in Oregon's Cascade Range and drains a portion of southwestern Mount Hood.The entire length of the river is protected National Wild and Scenic River, the only such river in the contiguous 48 states....
, a designated Wild and Scenic River, both provide excellent habitat for steelhead, chinook
Chinook salmon
The Chinook salmon, Oncorhynchus tshawytscha, is the largest species in the pacific salmon family. Other commonly used names for the species include King salmon, Quinnat salmon, Spring salmon and Tyee salmon...
and coho salmon
Coho salmon
The Coho salmon, Oncorhynchus kisutch, is a species of anadromous fish in the salmon family. Coho salmon are also known as silver salmon or "silvers". It is the state animal of Chiba, Japan.-Description:...
, as well as wild cutthroat trout
Cutthroat trout
The cutthroat trout is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is one of the many fish species colloquially known as trout...
. Mule deer
Mule Deer
The mule deer is a deer indigenous to western North America. The Mule Deer gets its name from its large mule-like ears. There are believed to be several subspecies, including the black-tailed deer...
and black bears
American black bear
The American black bear is a medium-sized bear native to North America. It is the continent's smallest and most common bear species. Black bears are omnivores, with their diets varying greatly depending on season and location. They typically live in largely forested areas, but do leave forests in...
find winter range in the area's rugged lower canyons.
Recreation
Popular recreational activities in the Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness include hiking, camping, cross-country skiing, berry-picking, and wildlife watching. There are several primitive campsites and relatively popular trails in the wilderness, including the Salmon River TrailSalmon River National Recreation Trail
The Salmon River National Recreation Trail is a National Recreation Trail in Oregon's northern Cascade Mountains among the foothills of Mount Hood. About of the trail's length is within the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, and parallels the Salmon River, though often along the top of a high...
, which follows the Salmon River beyond the wilderness boundary.
See also
- Salmon River National Recreation TrailSalmon River National Recreation TrailThe Salmon River National Recreation Trail is a National Recreation Trail in Oregon's northern Cascade Mountains among the foothills of Mount Hood. About of the trail's length is within the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, and parallels the Salmon River, though often along the top of a high...
- List of Oregon Wildernesses
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
- Old growth
- List of old growth forests
External links
- Salmon–Huckleberry Wilderness - Wilderness.net
- Mt. Hood National Forest - Wilderness
- Mt. Hood National Forest Wilderness Plan
- Forests and Global Warming - Oregon Wild