The United States Congress designated the Black Canyon Wilderness Area in 1984 and it now has a total of 13,400 acres. For a complete listing of public laws and further information on district offices, click here. About the Black Canyon Wilderness Thickets of willow and brush line the banks of Black Canyon Creek, which drops from 6,483 feet to 2,850 feet as it drains the Black Canyon Wilderness easterly into the South Fork John Day River.
Cliffs line the creek's winding lower gorge.
North-south ridges and steep side slopes along the waterway defer to rolling and then flat benches on the Wilderness edges. Elk and deer graze openly year-round, with black bears, coyotes, and mountain lions spotted less often. If you visit in summer, beware the danger of rattlesnakes. May. Summer months typically tend to be hot and dry. The 12-mile Black Canyon Trail cuts through a narrow gorge, requiring hikers to cross rushing water at least a dozen times.