Walla Walla Ranger District
The Walla Walla Ranger District stretches from Dayton, WA, to the
north to I-84 and Meacham, OR, to the south, Elgin, OR, and the
Grande Ronde River to the east and the Confederated Tribes of the
Umatilla Indian Reservation to the west. It includes land in 5 counties
and 2 states with a broad diversity of natural resources and an
equally broad diversity of users.
When discussing natural resources from the Walla Walla District,
water comes to the forefront of the discussion. The Mill Creek Watershed,
a 36 square mile drainage that supplies water to the City of Walla
Walla and the surrounding area. This area is managed and protected
cooperatively by the District and the City of Walla Walla.
The Walla Walla district offers many opportunities to recreate
from two commercial ski
areas to developed campsites,
cabin
rentals to miles and miles of trail,
snowmobile and cross country ski areas paths to fishing
opportunities. The area is full of historic sites like the Whitman
Route, used by Dr. Marcus and Narcissa Whitman as they made the
journey over the mountains to their future home at Whitman Mission.
The Kendall Skyline road, built in the 1930's by the CCC still reaches
from Dayton, Washington, to Tollgate, Oregon offering some magnificent
vistas to the forest visitor. The historic Tollgate Visitor Center
and the Long Meadows Guard station still stand in their original
locations.
The Walla Walla Ranger District also includes the North
Fork Umatilla Wilderness within its boundaries. This 15,000-acre
wilderness follows the North Fork of the Umatilla from its very
source to the junction of the North and South forks of the Umatilla.
Many great hiking trails radiate out from this junction, which is
also a popular camping area called Umatilla Forks.
The Walla Walla Ranger District is home to a wonderful variety
of wildlife and is a marvelous area for serious (or not so serious)
bird watchers. It has become
a popular destination for hunters from all over the United States.
Rumored to live on the District, but not yet proven, are Northern
Lynx, wolverines and even the elusive Sasquatch.
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