Umatilla National Forest

Welcome to the Umatilla National Forest nestled in the Blue Mountain range of northeast Oregon and southeast Washington. The forests landscapes of forests, mountains, and valleys range from as low as 1,600 feet ASL to as high as 8,000 feet ASL. Weather tends to be cold and snowy in the winter and warm and dry in the summer.

Forest History: Umatilla is an old tribal term that translates to “water rippling over sand.” The explorers Lewis and Clark were some of the first known white men to enter this area when they passed through in 1805 on their journey to the Pacific. Narcissa and Marcus Whitman passed through in 1836 and thousands of immigrants came to the region via the Oregon trail. In 1851 gold was discovered and over $10 million of gold and silver were mined.

Wildlife: Umatilla National Forest helps protect the home of numerous wild animals including Rocky Mountain Elk, white-tailed deer, bighorn sheep, squirrels, mountain lions, and many others. Please treat their home with respect.

For the lover of the outdoors Umatilla National Forest boasts over 175 miles of trails, over 2,000 miles of roads, over 20 campgrounds, many mountains to climb, the Bluewood Ski Resort, and so much more. Come on out and have a blast!