Malheur National Forest

Frequently Asked Questions - History

1. When was the Malheur National Forest established? The Malheur National Forest was established by President Taft on June 13th, 1908. It was created out of the larger Blue Mountains Forest Reserve which was established two years earlier.
2. Where does the name "Malheur" come from? The Malheur Forest was named for the Malheur River which has its headwaters in the southeastern part of the Forest. Malheur is a French word for misfortune (literally "bad hour"). The River was named by the fur trapper Peter Ogden in the 1820's when a cache of supplies hidden along its banks was taken by Indians.