Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness

Infobox_protected_area | name = Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness
iucn_category = Ib


caption = Summit of Oregon Butte
locator_x =
locator_y =
location = Oregon and Washington, USA
nearest_city = Milton-Freewater, Oregon and Walla Walla, Washington
lat_degrees = 45
lat_minutes = 59
lat_seconds = 59
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 117
long_minutes = 46
long_seconds = 00
long_direction = W
area = convert|177423|acre|km2|0
established = 1984
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = U.S. Forest Service

The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness is a federally designated wilderness area in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon, and southeastern Washington, United States.cite web |url=http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/uma/recreation/wilderness.shtml |title=Umatilla National Forest: Wilderness |publisher=United States Forest Service |accessdate=2007-12-14] It was created by the Endangered American Wilderness Act of 1978 and encompasses convert|177423|acre|km2|0 in the Umatilla National Forest - convert|6675|acre|km2|0 in Oregon and convert|111048|acre|km2|0 in Washington.cite web | title=GORP: Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness | url=http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_wilderness_area/or_wenah.htm| accessdate=2008-01-05]

Topography

The Wehana-Tucannon Wilderness consists primarily of rugged basaltic ridges separated by deep canyons with steep slopes. Much of the area's watershed drains through into Oregon's Wenaha River, although some of it flows north into Washington's Tucannon River. The Wilderness ranges in elevation from convert|2000|ft|m|0 on the Wild and Scenic Wenaha River to convert|6401|ft|m|0 atop Oregon Butte.cite web | title=Wilderness.net: Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness | url=http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Wenaha-Tucannon| accessdate=2008-01-05]

Vegetation

Ponderosa pine dominates the lower drainages of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness. Above about convert|4500|ft|m, it transitions to a forest of lodgepole pine with some species of larch, fir, and spruce as well. Subalpine fir, native grasses, and forbs are found at the highest elevations of the Wilderness.

Wildlife

The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness is home to a variety of wildlife, including Rocky Mountain elk, bighorn sheep, whitetail and mule deer, black bear, cougar, coyote, snowshoe hare, rattlesnake, and pine marten. Both the Tucannon and Wenaha Rivers provide spawning habitat for Chinook salmon and steelhead trout.

Recreation

Popular recreational activities in the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness include camping, horseback riding, wildlife watching, and hiking the area's convert|200|mi|km of trails. Elk hunting and fishing are also popular pastimes in the Wilderness.

References

See also

* List of Oregon Wildernesses
* List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
* National Wilderness Preservation System
* Wilderness Act

External links

* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/uma/recreation/wilderness.shtml#wtw Wineha-Tucannon Wilderness] - Umatilla National Forest
*cite web | title=Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness: Images | url = http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&WID=638&tab=Images| accessdate=2007-12-21