| North Fork Umatilla Wilderness | |
| Iucn Category: | Ib |
| Map: | USA Oregon#USA |
| Relief: | yes |
| Location: | Umatilla / Union counties, Oregon, United States |
| Nearest City: | Weston, Oregon |
| Coordinates: | 45.7167°N -118.1492°W |
| Area: | 20144acres |
| Established: | 1984 |
| Governing Body: | United States Forest Service |
The North Fork Umatilla Wilderness is a wilderness area located inside the Umatilla National Forest, in the Blue Mountains of northeastern Oregon. It is the smallest wilderness in northeast Oregon, encompassing only 20144acres in Umatilla and Union counties.[1]
The elevation of the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness ranges from 2000to, and is characterized by terrain that varies from gentle, sloping hills to extremely steep, timbered canyons below a high plateau. Common vegetation includes juniper, sagebrush, ponderosa pine, fir, spruce, lodgepole pine, and western larch.
The North Fork Umatilla River supports a sizeable population of bull trout, as well as anadromous fish such as steelhead. There are also several streams within the wilderness that contain native trout, and a few streams support spawning steelhead.[2] Big game animals found in the wilderness include Rocky Mountain elk and deer. Other wildlife in the wilderness include blue and ruffed grouse.[2] [3]
Primary recreational activities in the North Fork Umatilla Wilderness include hiking, camping, hunting, fishing, and horseback riding. The North Fork of the Umatilla River is designated catch and release only.[2] There is a 270NaN0 hiking trail system, which opens up early in the season due to the low elevation of the Wilderness.[1] [3]