Ochoco National Forest
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The Ochoco National Forest is located in the Ochoco Mountains in Central Oregon in the
United States The United States of America (USA), also known as the United States (U.S.) or America, is a country primarily located in North America. It is a federal republic of 50 U.S. state, states and a federal capital district, Washington, D.C. The 48 ...
, north and east of the city of Prineville, location of the national forest headquarters. It encompasses of rimrock, canyons, geologic oddities, dense pine forests, and high desert terrain, as well as the headwaters of the North Fork Crooked River. A 1993 Forest Service study estimated that the extent of old growth in the forest was . In descending order of forestland area, it occupies lands within Crook, Harney, Wheeler, and Grant counties. The national forest also administers the Crooked River National Grassland, which is in Jefferson County.


Wilderness

The forest contains three wilderness areas comprising : * Mill Creek Wilderness at * Bridge Creek Wilderness at * Black Canyon Wilderness at


Administration

The land is divided into three ranger districts: * Lookout Mountain Ranger District * Paulina Ranger District * Crooked River Grasslands District The Lookout Mountain and Paulina districts are located in Prineville while the Crooked River Grasslands are administered from office in Madras. The former Snow Mountain Ranger District is now administered by the Malheur National Forest, as part of the Emigrant Creek Ranger District.


Ecology

The Ochoco mountains are home to numerous species of interest to the Oregon Conservation Strategy under the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife including the Pacific Marten, Ferruginous Hawk, Greater Sage Grouse,
Wolverine The wolverine ( , ; ''Gulo gulo''), also called the carcajou or quickhatch (from East Cree, ''kwiihkwahaacheew''), is the largest land-dwelling species, member of the family Mustelidae. It is a muscular carnivore and a solitary animal. The w ...
, and Piliated Woodpecker. Due to sections of the forest representing winter range for
mule deer The mule deer (''Odocoileus hemionus'') is a deer indigenous to western North America; it is named for its ears, which are large like those of the mule. Two subspecies of mule deer are grouped into the black-tailed deer. Unlike the related whit ...
and elk, sections of the forest prohibit the use of motorized vehicles from December through May.


Recreation

Popular recreational activities in the Ochoco National Forest include
hiking A hike is a long, vigorous walk, usually on trails or footpaths in the countryside. Walking for pleasure developed in Europe during the eighteenth century. Long hikes as part of a religious pilgrimage have existed for a much longer time. "Hi ...
,
fishing Fishing is the activity of trying to catch fish. Fish are often caught as wildlife from the natural environment (Freshwater ecosystem, freshwater or Marine ecosystem, marine), but may also be caught from Fish stocking, stocked Body of water, ...
,
camping Camping is a form of outdoor recreation or outdoor education involving overnight stays with a basic temporary shelter such as a tent. Camping can also include a recreational vehicle, sheltered cabins, a permanent tent, a shelter such as a Bivy bag ...
,
hunting Hunting is the Human activity, human practice of seeking, pursuing, capturing, and killing wildlife or feral animals. The most common reasons for humans to hunt are to obtain the animal's body for meat and useful animal products (fur/hide (sk ...
, horseback riding, stargazing, birding, rock hounding,
kayaking Kayaking is the use of a kayak for moving over water. It is distinguished from canoeing by the sitting position of the paddler and the number of blades on the paddle. A kayak is a low-to-the-water, canoe-like boat in which the paddler sits fac ...
, and
rock climbing Rock climbing is a climbing sports discipline that involves ascending climbing routes, routes consisting of natural rock in an outdoor environment, or on artificial resin climbing walls in a mostly indoor environment. Routes are documented in c ...
.


See also

* List of national forests of the United States


References


External links


Ochoco National Forest, Crooked River National Grassland
Protected areas of Crook County, Oregon Protected areas of Grant County, Oregon National forests of Oregon Protected areas of Wheeler County, Oregon 1911 establishments in Oregon Protected areas established in 1911 Oregon placenames of Native American origin {{Oregon-protected-area-stub