Recreation area

Clackamas Wilderness

Mt. Hood National Forest · Oregon — managed by USDA Forest Service

Open recreation area — no reservation needed

About this campground

The 9,181 acre Clackamas Wilderness consists of five widely separated tracts of road-less land, scattered on either side of the Clackamas River over 50 miles. These pieces include Big Bottom, Clackamas Canyon, Memaloose Lake, Sisi Butte and South Fork Clackamas. With some of the largest trees in northwest Oregon, the Clackamas Wilderness protects clean drinking water for many Oregonians as well as habitat for many species. A popular hike in the Clackamas Wilderness is the trail to Memaloose Lake. It climbs through an old-growth forest 1.4 miles to the lake, and then continues a mile up to a viewpoint atop South Fork Mountain. The word memaloose means "dead" in Chinook jargon, the old Indian trade language of the Northwest. The old-growth forest around the lake is a rare example of mature forest habitat surrounded by lands that have been historically logged. Key access points: Trail and trailhead access information​ View larger map

Getting there

Clackamas Wilderness sections are located along the Wild and Scenic Clackamas River starting 22 miles southeast of Estacata, OR along OR-224. Trails within Clackmas Wilderness sections Clackmas River Trail #715 Hillockburn Trail #516  Memaloose Lake Trail #515 Maps of Clackamas Wilderness sections designated in 2009 Clackamas Wilderness -Big Bottom Clackamas Wilderness- Clackamas Canyon Clackamas Wilderness- Memaloose Lake Clackamas Wilderness- Sisi Butte Clackamas Wilderness- South Fork Topo Maps Download free U.S. Forest Service Topo maps. Buy maps online Go to the National Forest Store. Wilderness.net Go to Wilderness.net for online maps and other important Wilderness information.

Activities

  • HIKING

Explore more Oregon camping

Clackamas Wilderness doesn't take campsite reservations — but plenty of nearby Oregon campgrounds do, and we'll alert you the moment a sold-out site opens up.

Browse Oregon camping →

Details from Recreation.gov's official RIDB catalog. Conditions change — confirm with the managing office before you go. Not affiliated with Recreation.gov or any federal agency.