The Pomeroy Ranger District, the northern-most district of the Umatilla National Forest, is located in southeastern Washington and northeastern Oregon.  It includes 365,901 acres at the northeastern edge of the Blue Mountains with 95,467 acres in Garfield County, thus allowing a wide range of recreational opportunities.

     The Pomeroy Ranger District has developed campgrounds, none of which are administered as fee sites.  These include:  Tucanonnon Campground, Alder Thicket, Wickiup, Teal, Big Springs,  and Godman.  Dispersed campgrounds include:  Misery, Spruce Springs, Ladybug, Panjab, Boundary, Pataha and Cabin Saddle.

     Vista points provide a great place to sit and relax, or just to eat lunch during a short drive,  Sunset Point, the Wenatchee area, Ray Ridge, Table Rock and the west edge of Teal Campground all provide spectacular views.  Or if you like to hike, a walk into Oregon Butte will provide a breath-taking view of the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness.

     There are four cabins (old guard stations) that may be rented for overnight stays located at Godman, Clearwater, and Wenatchee areas.  The charge per night is $25 to $50.

     The state of Washington and the Umatilla National Forest are working jointly on recreation projects.  Currently, there are 67 miles of groomed trails developed for snowmobile use.  The state supplies a grooming machine and the Pomeroy Ranger District supplies the workforce through personnel and volunteers from the local community snowmobile club, Mt. Misery Drifters.

     Family activities such as berry picking, woodcutting, and mushrooming are also available locally.  No permit is required for personal use of berries.  The season for huckleberries and raspberries is usually the end of July and the first part of August.  A personal-use permit to cut firewood is necessary on National Forest lands.  Woodcutting season runs from mid-May through mid-October.  Recreational mushroom picking is an avid annual activity on the District during the months of May and June.  Up to three gallons of mushrooms may be picked for personal consumption.  Mushrooms such as Morels and Shaggy Manes thrive on dead organic matter and can usually be found in burned-over wooded areas.

     The Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness was established in 1978 and consists of over 177,000 acres characterized by rugged basaltic ridges separated by deep canyons and steep side-slopes.  If you are into hiking, or horseback riding, this is a quiet and remote area for you to use,  There are 13 trailheads with developed parking.

     There are almost 400 miles of managed trails in the Pomeroy District; 263 miles are within the Wenaha-Tucannon Wilderness which prohibits motorized use.  Trails are rated differently for different kinds of use, so be sure to plan ahead and contact the District office for more information concerning the type of trails that are located in an area you plan to enter.

     For more information about any recreational activity on the Umatilla National Forest call (509)843-1891 or call the 24-hour information line at (509) 843-1339.