Boulder Creek Wilderness

Infobox_protected_area | name = Boulder Creek Wilderness
iucn_category = Ib

---

caption =
locator_x = 18
locator_y = 39
location = Oregon, USA
nearest_city = Glide, Oregon
lat_degrees = 43
lat_minutes = 21
lat_seconds = 00
lat_direction = N
long_degrees = 122
long_minutes = 31
long_seconds = 00
long_direction = W
area = convert|19100|acre|km2
established = 1984
visitation_num =
visitation_year =
governing_body = United States Forest Service

The Boulder Creek Wilderness is a wilderness area located in the Umpqua National Forest in the southern Cascade Range of Oregon, United States. It was designated by the United States Congress in 1984 and comprises convert|19100|acre|km2. [http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua/recreation/wilderness/boulder-creek-wilderness.shtml Boulder Creek Wilderness] - Umpqua National Forest, US Forest Service]

There are over convert|30|mi|km of hiking trails in the Wilderness, including the convert|10.6|mi|km mile Boulder Creek Trail and the convert|3.5|mi|km Jessie Wright segment of the North Umpqua Trail. [http://gorp.away.com/gorp/resource/us_wilderness_area/or_bould.htm Boulder Creek Wilderness, Oregon] - GORP]

Topography

Boulder Creek Wilderness ranges in elevation from convert|1600|ft|m to convert|5600|ft|m. It surrounds Boulder Creek and its tributaries, which flows south and west through the heart of the Wilderness and drains into the Wild and Scenic North Umpqua River. [http://www.wilderness.net/index.cfm?fuse=NWPS&sec=wildView&wname=Boulder%20Creek Boulder Creek Wilderness] - Wilderness.net]

Geology

convert|1420|acre|km2 of the Boulder Creek Wilderness is designated the Umpqua Rocks Special Interest Geologic Area. Large volcanic basalt and andesite monolithic spires with names such as Eagle Rock, Rattlesnake Rock, and Old Man are prominent landscape features. These spires are popular among rock climbers.

The geologic formations in this area date to the early Tertiary Period, some 30 million years ago. Volcanic intrusions, stocks, plugs and dikes were more common during this period of time. Later periods involved pyroclastic tuffs and breccias associated more with volcanic flows of andesite and dacite material.

Vegetation

Old growth Ponderosa pines flourish on Pine Bench, near the lower end of Boulder Creek Wilderness. This is thought to be the largest such stand this far northwest of the crest of the Cascade Mountains. In 1996, the convert|16500|acre|km2 Spring Fire burned through much of the Wilderness. Scientists have since been in the area studying the long-term ecological effects of the fire.

References

ee also

* List of Oregon Wildernesses
* List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
* List of old growth forests
* Wilderness Act

External links

* [http://www.fs.fed.us/r6/umpqua/recreation/wilderness/boulder-creek-wilderness.html Boulder Creek Wilderness] - Umpqua National Forest