Middle Santiam Wilderness

Middle Santiam Wilderness is a 8,758-acre federally protected wilderness area in Oregon managed by the Forest Service. It offers primitive backcountry hiking and backpacking in a non-motorized setting where solitude and untracked terrain are the primary draws. The landscape is characterized by old-growth forest and steep terrain typical of the region's wilderness core.

As a designated Wilderness Area, the landscape is off-limits to roads, motors, and mechanized travel of any kind. Visitors must travel on foot or horseback and adhere to Leave No Trace principles—pack out all waste, camp on durable surfaces away from water sources, and minimize your footprint. Access is by foot from trailheads on the periphery; there are no facilities within the wilderness itself. Summer and early fall offer the most reliable conditions, though weather can be unpredictable year-round in Oregon's Cascade backcountry. Plan accordingly and check conditions before heading in.