Wilderness Update Winter 2025
The 90-Mile Wilderness Corridor Along the High Cascades
by Diana Pace
The proposed 90-mile High Cascades Wilderness Corridor represents one of the most ambitious and ecologically meaningful conservation visions in Oregon’s recent history. Stretching across a continuous chain of protected lands from the proposed Brown Mountain Wilderness in the south to the Diamond Peak Wilderness in the north, this corridor would safeguard some of the most irreplaceable biological, hydrological, and scenic landscapes in the state.
At the heart of the proposal is the designation of 160,000 acres of Crater Lake National Park backcountry as wilderness, a move that would align the park with 50 other national parks whose backcountry areas already carry wilderness designation. With more than 80% of all national park land and water nationwide already managed as wilderness, this proposal extends a proven model of stewardship to an ecosystem that clearly warrants it.
Why This Corridor Matters
The corridor would establish one of the highest-quality wildlife and plant habitat networks in the Pacific Northwest. Its preservation would:
- Protect rare native wildlife and plant species
- Maintain biodiversity and genetic resources
- Safeguard old-growth forests that store vast amounts of carbon
- Secure the headwaters of major rivers serving communities across western and southern Oregon
The proposal encompasses the headwaters of the North and South Umpqua, Rogue, Klamath, Little Deschutes, Middle Fork Willamette, and Spring Rivers, waters that nourish salmon, irrigate farms, supply drinking water, and sustain forest ecosystems.
In this landscape, ice-cold springs, subalpine meadows, and dozens of pristine high-elevation lakes dot the scenery. These lakes are among the Western United States’ most chemically pure. Cradled by tall forest basins, these lakes sustain thriving amphibian, bird, and mammal communities. Elk herds feed in the meadows; fishers and pine martens roam the forests; black bears, cougars, and coyotes move along the ridges; and pikas, golden-mantled ground squirrels, and other alpine species inhabit talus slopes and meadows. Hundreds of thousands of migratory birds pass overhead each year, many stopping to rest and forage among the high lakes. The Pacific Crest Trail follows the spine of this corridor, offering hikers a world-class experience through protected wildlands.
South to North: Key Units of the Proposed Corridor
Brown Mountain Wilderness (Proposed – 11,000 acres)
South of Highway 140, this landscape blends ancient old-growth forests with dramatic lava flows. It contains the headwaters of the North and South Forks of Little Butte Creek, a primary water source for the communities of Eagle Point and Medford, two major population centers in southern Oregon.
Sky Lakes Wilderness (Existing – 113,849 acres, designated 1984)
North of Highway 140 lies the Sky Lakes Wilderness, encompassing three major lake basins and the vital Middle Fork Rogue River watershed. The region holds deep cultural significance as ancestral Native American homelands. Its mosaic of high lakes, forests, and meadows forms one of the most important eco-regions in the Cascades.
Crater Lake National Park Backcountry (Proposed Wilderness – 160,000 acres)
Crater Lake is more than its iconic caldera; it contains vast stretches of untouched forest, pumice desert, volcanic features, and rare flora. Its backcountry remains largely as it was when the park was established in 1902. The watershed origins of both the Rogue and Klamath Rivers lie here.
Elevation: 4,593–8,929 ft
Wildlife: Clark’s nutcracker, fisher, northern flying squirrel, pika
Signature Trails:
- Mount Scott Summit Trail, leading to the park’s highest point and sweeping views framed by rare whitebark pine and Shasta red fir.
- Pacific Crest Trail, which traverses 33 miles of old-growth forest and volcanic landscapes.
Mt. Thielsen Wilderness Additions (Proposed – 54,914 acres)
This expansion would connect Crater Lake’s pristine backcountry to the existing Mt. Thielsen Wilderness, creating a continuous protected corridor northward to Windigo Pass (Forest Road 60). This region features rolling lodgepole forests, volcanic rock formations, and the headwaters of the North Umpqua Wild and Scenic River and the Little Deschutes River.
Acreage after additions: 64,330
Elevation: 4,200–7,474 ft
Wildlife: Migratory birds, Miller Lake lamprey, fisher, possible wolverine, elk, black bear
Key Trails: Skyline Trail to Mt. Thielsen, Tipsoo Peak, Maidu segment of the North Umpqua Trail, and the PCT.
Sawtooth Mountain Wilderness (Proposed – 36,314 acres)
North of Windigo Pass, this proposal would bridge the gap between the Mt. Thielsen and Diamond Peak Wildernesses, completing the 90-mile corridor. The area is renowned for its alpine lakes and sweeping ridges. The PCT circles Cowhorn Mountain on its approach to Diamond Peak.
Elevation: 4,900–7,592 ft
Notable Peak: Cowhorn Mountain
Hydrology: Near the headwaters of the Middle Fork Willamette River
Popular Trails: Indigo Lake loop, Sawtooth Mountain, Timpanogas Lake, Cowhorn Mountain, PCT.
A Legacy-Scale Conservation Opportunity
By linking these wild landscapes into a single protected corridor, this proposal would forge one of the Pacific Northwest’s largest intact biodiversity networks, safeguarding water for multiple communities, preserving climate-resilient refugia, and maintaining ecological connectivity for generations of wildlife.
The 90-Mile Wilderness Corridor is not simply a conservation plan. It is an investment in Oregon’s ecological future and a commitment to keep our most treasured landscapes intact for all who depend on them.