Fremont/Winema National Forest - Oregon

Embark on an adventure in Oregon's Outback! Enjoy outdoor recreation and discover endless nature in a wild and rustic environment of two National Forests!

As the newest national forest in Oregon, the Winema has a rich heritage, blending Native American prehistory, early exploration and settlement, and turn of the century logging. The Fremont National Forest was established in 1908 by President Theodore Roosevelt and named for Captain John C. Fremont, an early explorer who traveled through the area in 1843 with Kit Carson. Today, the Fremont-Winema National Forests offer 2.3 million acres of exploration in a largely sunny area, great for outdoor fun. Upper Klamath Lake, the largest natural lake in Oregon, is known for vast marshes and meadows, and visitors can hike through stands of ponderosa and lodge pole pine, which grow on deep pumice and ash that blanketed the area nearly 7,000 years ago. The remote Fremont National Forest boasts diverse weather as well as expansive views, dramatic cliffs and solitude. Habitats here range from near-desert to lush coniferous forests and the Gearhart Mountain Wilderness (the forest's only wilderness), features Gearhart Mountain which is 8,380 feet at the summit.

Both the Fremont and Winema National Forests draw folks who enjoy sailing, motor boating, fishing, and camping, as well as bird watching and hiking, backpacking, horseback riding, and scenic drives. There are interpretive sites suitable for the whole family and if visiting in the winter, top-notch cross-country skiing and snowmobiling are available.

Should you wish to spend the night, the Winema National Forest has established campgrounds throughout the forest or if you prefer more backcountry, most of the forest is open for dispersed or backcountry camping.

Winema National Forest lies on the eastern slopes of the Cascade Mountain Range in South Central Oregon. US Highway 97 and State Highways 140 and 62 all run through portions of the forest. The Fremont National Forest is located east of the Cascade Mountains, in the high-elevation lava tablelands of south-central Oregon.