Black Canyon
Trailheads Black Canyon East Trailhead Drive there · Black Canyon West Trailhead Drive there
Black Canyon East Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up
This is a free facility. · reservation required
This trailhead is located at the eastern terminus of Black Canyon Trail (#820) within Black Canyon Wilderness . There is a small parking area that can accommodate most vehicles, but parking is limited.
View a Black Canyon Wilderness area map
Restrictions This is a Day-Use only facility. No overnight camping is permitted at trailheads or Sno-Parks on the Ochoco National Forest or Crooked River National Grassland.
Black Canyon West Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up
This is a free facility. · reservation required
This trailhead is located near Wolf Mountain Lookout and provides access to the southwestern terminus of Black Canyon Trail (#820) within Black Canyon Wilderness .
View a Black Canyon Wilderness area trails map
Restrictions This is a Day-Use only facility. No overnight camping is permitted at trailheads or Sno-Parks on the Ochoco National Forest or Crooked River National Grassland.
Black Canyon Wilderness the Forest Service's write-up
This remote 13,400 acre wilderness offers opportunities for solitude. The major creeks of Black Canyon and Cottonwood bisect the area. Dense thickets of willow and brush follow the stream course. Hillsides are dominated by mixed conifer and stands of park-like ponderosa pine. Ridge-tops are predominantly open sagebrush with some mountain mahogany. Deer and elk are common year round. The lucky observer may also see bear, coyote, mountain lion, or possibly wolverines! Beware of rattlesnakes, especially in stream bottoms.
Walk down through geologic time, from the rim to Black Canyon creek, from Boeing Field to the South Fork of the John Day River; each successive basalt flow is older than the last. Black Canyon Wilderness is a layer cake of 17 million-year-old Picture Gorge Basalt flows, stacked one on top of the other.
The 18 miles of maintained trail offer easy access throughout the wilderness. Be prepared to ford streams as there are no bridges. The 12-mile Black Canyon Trail (#820 ) cuts through a narrow gorge, requiring hikers to cross rushing water at least a dozen times. The creek is typically un-fordable at high water, usually January through March. Three short side trails join the Black Canyon Trail. There have been two large wild fires in the area within the last decade encompassing most of the wilderness.
Elevation range: 2,850' - 6,483'
Trail map : View a Black Canyon Wilderness area trails map (.pdf)
Key access points: Trail and trailhead access information
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Restrictions <ul><li>Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is prohibited.</li><li>Possessing or using a bicycle or hang glider is prohibited.</li><li>Landing an aircraft, or dropping off or picking up any material by means of an aircraft is prohibited. </li><li>Certified <a href="http://www.fs.usda.gov/detail/r6/forest-grasslandhealth/invasivespecies/?cid=fsbdev2_027242">weed-free feed</a> is required in all National Forests and National Grasslands in the Pacific Northwest. </li></ul>
Boeing Field Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up
This is a free facility. · reservation required
This trailhead provides access to the Owl Creek Trail (#820A) , which leads into Black Canyon Wilderness . It is signed and marked by an information board/trail register. There is limited roadside and off road parking.
View a Black Canyon Wilderness area trails map
Restrictions This is a Day-Use only facility. No overnight camping is permitted at trailheads or Sno-Parks on the Ochoco National Forest or Crooked River National Grassland.
Coffeepot Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up
This is a free facility. · reservation required
This trailhead is located at the end of a two-track road and provides access into Black Canyon Wilderness from the northwest via Coffeepot Trail (#820B) .
View a Black Canyon Wilderness area trails map
Restrictions This is a Day-Use only facility. No overnight camping is permitted at trailheads or Sno-Parks on the Ochoco National Forest or Crooked River National Grassland.
Payten Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up
This is a free facility. · reservation required
This trailhead is located near 760 Reservoir and provides access to Payten Trail (#820D) which drops into Black Canyon Wilderness from the north.
Almost directly across Forest Service Road 38 is the Cottonwood Trailhead , which provides access to the eastern end of the Ochoco Mountain Trail (#823) .
Access to Payten Trailhead can be rough and the parking area at the trailhead is rather small, so please plan the vehicles you bring strategically.
View a map of Black Canyon Wilderness area trails and trailheads
Restrictions This is a Day-Use only facility. No overnight camping is permitted at trailheads or Sno-Parks on the Ochoco National Forest or Crooked River National Grassland.
South Prong Trailhead the Forest Service's write-up
This is a free facility. · reservation required
This trailhead, which is located just north of Mud Springs Horse Camp , provides access into Black Canyon Wilderness via South Prong Trail (#821) .
View a map of Black Canyon Wilderness area trails and trailheads
Restrictions Trailheads are for Day Use only.