Wilderness Regulations

Wilderness Permits

Whether day-hiking or overnight back-packing, all individuals and/or groups must obtain a wilderness permit between June 15 and October 15. For all day-use and overnight use in the Diamond Peak and Thielsen wildernesses the permits are free self-issued permits that are obtained at the trailhead.  

For the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington and Three Sisters wildernesses a permit system has been implemented to allow access into these well-loved wildernesses, but also to protect them for future generations. You can find out more about this system by going directly to this page: Central Cascades Wilderness Permit System.

The Central Cascades Wilderness Permit System requires permits for all overnight use and 19 day use trailheads in the Three Sisters, Mt. Jefferson and Mt. Washington Wilderness areas from June 15 to October 15. Permits can be reserved on Recreation.gov beginning the first Tuesday of April every year. For day-use in these wildernesses on the 60 trails that do not require a permit, visitors will need to obtain a free self-issued permit at those trailheads.

 

• Mt. Jefferson Wilderness Georeferenced Permit Map

  

  This map highlights which trailheads require a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for day use and those trailheads with day use opportunities requiring a free, self-issue permit at the trailhead.

  Download Map

• Mt. Washington Wilderness Georeferenced PDF Map

  

  This map highlights which trailheads require a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for day use and those trailheads with day use opportunities requiring a free, self-issue permit at the trailhead.

  Download Map

• Three Sisters Wilderness Georeferenced Permit Map

  

  This map highlights which trailheads require a Central Cascades Wilderness Permit for day use and those trailheads with day use opportunities requiring a free, self-issue permit at the trailhead.

  Download Map

Federal Regulations (36 CFR 261.18) for National Forest Wilderness:

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is prohibited. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters.

Note: Other regulations that also apply to wilderness areas can be found in the 36 CFR sections 261. This also includes drones or unmanned aircraft systems (UAS).

The Following are Prohibited within all Deschutes National Forest Wildernesses:

• Groups larger than 12 persons and 12 head of stock. Large groups multiply the impact on the resource and can be disruptive to others.
• Entering or being in Deschutes National Forest wildernesses without a permit.  Visit our wilderness permits page to find out which permit you need. Information gathered from permits is vital in determining proper management.
• Building, maintaining, attending, or using a campfire within 100 foot slope distance (37 adult steps) of any permanent lake, stream, spring, pond or system trail. Campfires and wood gathering damage fragile areas.
• Leaving refuse, debris, trash, litter, food or human/pet waste in an exposed or unsanitary condition.
• Hitching, tethering, picketing, or securing any pack or saddle stock within 200 feet slope distance of any permanent lake, stream, spring, pond, shelter or system trail. 
• Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport including: chainsaws, bicycles, motorcycles, snowmobiles, hang gliders, aircraft, motorboats, wagons, game carts, baby strollers, wheelbarrows and other non-primitive tools and wheeled vehicles (wheelchairs excluded). 
• Camping or being within areas posted as closed for rehabilitation. These areas have been restored to permit natural conditions to return.
• Cutting or damaging any timber, tree, vegetation, unique plant species or other forest product except as authorized. 
• Storing or caching equipment, personal property or supplies within Wilderness for more than 48 hours.  Geo-caches are prohibited in wilderness.
• Gathering a of forest products, for example mushrooms and berries, except for personal on-site use. 
• Commercial use and/or services within wilderness except by special use permit.
• High-use area regulations:
  • Campfires are prohibited in many high-use, sub-alpine and alpine areas.
  • Some high-use areas require limited entry permits
  • Use of designated campsites is required in some high-use areas (Mt. Jefferson Wilderness) (Three Sisters Wilderness).

Special Area Regulations

• Special Area Regulations apply for the Mt. Jefferson, Mt. Washington, Three Sisters areas. Visit the Central Cascades Wilderness Permit page to learn more.

• Check out our Wilderness georeference maps, which show permit requirements for trailheads within each Wilderness area.

  • Mt. Jefferson Wilderness
  • Mt. Washington Wilderness
  • Three Sisters Wilderness
  • Diamond Peak Wilderness

• Campfires are prohibited above 5,700 ft. in Wilderness within the Deschutes National Forest with the exception of the Diamond Peak Wilderness, where campfires are prohibited above 6,000 ft.

Check with the local Ranger District office for further information and detailed maps.

Three Sisters Wilderness ~ Special Restrictions

• These areas require a Central Cascade Wilderness Permit for overnight use and some day use.
• Green Lakes basin, Moraine Lake basin, North and South Matthieu Lakes are designated camping areas and overnight campers must camp within 15 feet from an established post. If no campsites are available, campers must leave the lake basin.
• No Name Lake on Broken Top Tarn – No camping within ¼ mile of the high-water mark.
• Golden Lake – No camping within 250 feet of water or the high-water mark
• No camping within 100 feet of the high-water mark of lake or any water source in these areas:
  • Linton Meadow area
  • Minnie Scott Springs area
  • Obsidian area, including
    • Arrowhead Lake
    • Glacier Creek
    • Obsidian Creek
    • Obsidian Meadows
    • White Branch Creek
    • Campfires are prohibited above 5700 feet

Mt. Jefferson Wilderness ~ Special Restrictions

• These areas require a Central Cascade Wilderness Permit for overnight use and some day use.
• Pamelia Lake – No camping within 100 feet of high-water mark of lake or any other water source
• Campfires are prohibited above 5,700 feet and within these lake basins:
  • Marion Lake
  • Ann Lake
  • Table Lake

Mt. Washington Wilderness ~ Special Restrictions

• These areas require a Central Cascade Wilderness Permit for overnight use and some day use.
• Campfires are prohibited above 5700 feet and within these lake basins:
  • Benson Lake
  • Tenas Lake

Diamond Peak Wilderness ~ Special Restrictions

• Campfires are prohibited above 6,000 foot elevation.

Questions? Contact any Deschutes or Willamette National Forest office for more information about special wilderness restrictions.

Weed-Free Feed 

As part of a larger effort to reduce invasive species on national forest lands, weed-free feed is required in the 17 national forests and the Crooked River National Grasslands of the Pacific Northwest. Weed-Free Feed Requirements.

Fireworks and Firearms on National Forest Lands

1. Possession and/or Use of fireworks or other explosives are prohibited on National Forest lands at all times.

2. Regulations prohibit discharging a firearm or any weapon capable of injuring others:

• In or within 150 yards of a residence, building, campsite, developed recreation site or occupied area 
• Across or on roads, system trails, bodies of water, or where people or property are exposed to injury or damage, 
• Into a cave, 
• Into areas that cause any type of resource damage. Please do not shoot trees, rocks, stumps, or non-game animals. 

Violation of these and other laws, rules and regulations which apply to designated Wilderness are punishable by a fine or imprisonment. (16 U.S.C. 551, 18 U.S.C. 3559 and 3571).