- Bridge Creek Wilderness
Infobox_protected_area | name = Bridge Creek Wilderness
iucn_category = Ib
caption =
locator_x = 26
locator_y = 38
location =Oregon , USA
nearest_city =Prineville, Oregon
lat_degrees = 44
lat_minutes = 28
lat_seconds = 30
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 120
long_minutes = 13
long_seconds = 25
long_direction = W
area = convert|5400|acre|km2|0|sing=off
established =1984
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body =U.S. Forest Service Bridge Creek Wilderness is a
wilderness area located in the Ochoco Mountains of central Oregon, within theOchoco National Forest . It was established in 1984 and comprises convert|5400|acre|km2|0|sing=off, making it one of the smallest Wilderness areas in the state. [http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/recreation/special/wilderness/bridgecreek.shtml Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests] - Bridge Creek Wilderness]Topography
Bridge Creek Wilderness is characterized by steep terrain, open meadows, forested mountain slopes, and barren
plateaus . Elevation ranges from convert|4360|ft|m|0|sing=off to convert|6607|ft|m|0|sing=off. [http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_wilderness_area/or_bridg.htm Bridge Creek Wilderness, Oregon] - GORP] Bridge Creek drains northeasterly from the summit of the Ochoco Mountains, essentially dividing the Wilderness into two plateaus. The peaks of East Point and North Point at convert|6625|ft|m|0|sing=off and convert|6607|ft|m|0|sing=off, respectively, look across the small Wilderness. [http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Bridge%20Creek Bridge Creek Wilderness] - Wilderness.net] Five perennial springs flow in the Wilderness - Thompson, Pisgah, Masterson, Nelson, and Maxwell. The Bridge Spring and Bridge Creek watershed creates the domestic water supply for the town of Mitchell.cite book| last =Sullivan| first =William L.| editor =Thurman, Paula (Ed.)| title =Exploring Oregon's Wild Areas (3rd ed.)| publisher =The Mountaineers Books| year =2002]Lava vents located north of the
John Day River produced lava that now caps most of the Ochoco crest, creating the pillar-shapedbasalt columns at the cliffs on North Point.Vegetation
The forest in Bridge Creek Wilderness consists primarily of
Douglas fir ,grand fir , andlarch , with some stands of lodgepole andponderosa pine . Other plants includesagebrush ,bunchgrass ,sparse , andmountain mahogany .Wildlife
A variety of wildlife lives in Bridge Creek Wilderness, including
elk ,deer ,mule deer , black bear, andmountain lion . Birds includepileated woodpecker ,goshawk andprairie falcon .Recreation
Popular recreational activities in Bridge Creek Wilderness include hiking several miles of trails to North Point and East Point.
References
ee also
*
List of Oregon Wildernesses
*List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
*Wilderness Act External links
* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/centraloregon/recreation/special/wilderness/bridgecreek.shtml Deschutes & Ochoco National Forests] - Bridge Creek Wilderness
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