The 1,945-acre Mt. Hood Oaks property is located in the dry East Cascades ecoregion, directly east of Oregon’s tallest peak, Mt. Hood, along the border of two of the most popular wild places in Oregon: the Mt. Hood National Forest and Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife’s White River Wildlife Area. At Mt. Hood Oaks, conifer forests with cedar-lined streams shift into open grasslands, dry-desert adapted juniper habitats merge with riparian aspen stands and beaver-rich wetlands, and old-growth oaks anchor the middle ground. The area’s conservation is an important first step in linking Mt. Hood National Forest with state and federal lands along the Deschutes River. The site will ensure habitat connectivity for numerous species and also facilitate fire management.
If conserved, this property could expect nearly 800 hunters each year, in addition to hikers, botanists, and those engaged in wildlife viewing. The Mt. Hood Oaks conservation project represents the largest scale effort in Oregon in the history of Columbia Land Trust. The Land Trust aims to close on the property in 2026 and will work closely with agencies, community members, and the Confederated Tribes of Warm Springs during the process.
