Bridge Creek Wilderness
| Bridge Creek Wilderness | |
|---|---|
wilderness area) | |
  | |
| Location | Wheeler County, Oregon, United States |
| Nearest city | Prineville, Oregon |
| Coordinates | 44°28′30″N 120°13′25″W / 44.47500°N 120.22361°W |
| Area | 5,400 acres (2,185 ha) |
| Established | 1984 |
| Governing body | U.S. Forest Service |
Bridge Creek Wilderness is a
wilderness area located in the Ochoco Mountains of central Oregon, within the Ochoco National Forest. It was established in 1984 and comprises 5,400 acres (2,185 ha), making it one of the smallest Wilderness areas in the state.[1]
Topography
Bridge Creek Wilderness is characterized by steep terrain, open meadows, forested mountain slopes, and barren
springs flow in the Wilderness - Thompson, Pisgah, Masterson, Nelson, and Maxwell.[3] The Bridge Spring and Bridge Creek watershed creates the domestic water supply for the town of Mitchell.[2][3][4]
Lava vents located north of the John Day River produced lava that now caps most of the Ochoco crest, creating the pillar-shaped basalt columns at the cliffs on North Point.[4]
Vegetation
The forest in Bridge Creek Wilderness consists primarily of
mountain mahogany.[4]
Wildlife
A variety of wildlife lives in Bridge Creek Wilderness, including
Recreation
Popular recreational activities in Bridge Creek Wilderness include hiking several miles of trails to North Point and East Point.
See also
- List of Oregon Wildernesses
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
- Wilderness Act
References
- ^ a b Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests - Bridge Creek Wilderness
- ^ a b c Bridge Creek Wilderness, Oregon Archived 2010-05-16 at the Wayback Machine - GORP
- ^ a b c Bridge Creek Wilderness - Wilderness.net
- ^ a b c Sullivan, William L. (2002). Thurman, Paula (ed.). Exploring Oregon's Wild Areas (3rd ed.). The Mountaineers Books.
External links
- Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests - Bridge Creek Wilderness