Clackamas Wilderness

Thanks to a long tradition nurtured initially by Teddy Roosevelt, the United States was the first country in the world to define and designate wilderness areas through law in 1964. In the vicinity of Portland there are many wilderness areas, mostly pocket-sized. One of the newest additions is the Clackamas Wilderness, authorized in 2009 and totaling about 15 square-miles. It consists of five widely-separated tracts of roadless land, scattered left and right of the Clackamas River for 50 miles.

A pleasant area to hike is the Memaloose Lake tract, covering about one square mile. The trail to Memaloose Lake climbs through an old-growth forest of hemlocks and Douglas firs. The trail gains about 700 feet of elevation in 1 1/2 miles to the eight-acre lake. It is a beautiful spot, especially in the fall when the bright reds of vine maple leaves are reflected in the waters.

South Fork Mountain

It’s about another 700 feet of elevation gain on a rougher trail for one mile to reach a viewpoint atop South Fork Mountain. There is evidence of a long-removed fire lookout tower on the summit. The views extend in all directions. As you return to the trailhead think about the rare wilderness island. We owe much to visionaries like Teddy Roosevelt.