- Located on Mt. Hood’s south side, the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness can be reached by taking Welches Road from Highway 26.
- Salmon Butte provides views of the Old Cascade volcanic ridges.
- Few people visit the wilderness, leaving the area peaceful and pristine.
Overview
The wild and scenic Salmon River flows through the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness in Oregon’s Mt. Hood National Forest, bringing runs of steelhead, Chinook and Coho salmon that have been harvested by anglers for centuries. The area was designated wilderness in 1984 to protect the habitat it provides for its animal and plant species, including old-growth evergreens, Oregon grape, salal, and wild huckleberries, as well as mule deer, black bear, wolves, eagles, and mountain cougars.
More than 70 miles of trails crisscross the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness, and Salmon Butte stands out on its horizon; this walkable butte rises 4,877 feet and offers panoramic views from its summit. Yet the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness remains pristine and receives much less use than the Mt. Hood Wilderness nearby; thus the area is a prime location for travelers seeking solitude and peace.
Location & Information
The Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness is located on the southern side of Mt. Hood in the Mt. Hood National Forest in Oregon. The area is reachable via Welches Road south from U.S. Highway 26.
Activities
- Sightseeing: from Salmon Butte one can view the ridges of the Old Cascades, a volcanic mountain range that erupted 10 million years prior to today’s High Cascades.
- Hiking trails cross the wilderness, including the Salmon River National Recreation Trail.
- Fishing is good along the Salmon, mainly salmon, steelhead, and trout.
- Pick and eat wild huckleberries, which ripen in late August.
- Peaceful solitude can be experienced in this pristine landscape.
