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Mill Creek Roadless Area
A look at the Mill Creek Roadless Area in Oregon's Ochocco National Forest
Ochoco National Forest
The Mill Creek roadless area is located in the Prineville Ranger District on
the Ochoco National Forest. They are adjacent to the 15,000 acre Mill Creek Wilderness and
are easily accessible year round from a paved road just 16 miles northeast of downtown
Prineville.
This Roadless Area provides contains plenty of pristine streams and has abundant low
elevation old growth forest habitat. The mixed conifer ancient forest of ponderosa pine, western larch and Douglas fir is habitat for old growth dependent species
such as pine marten, pileated woodpecker, and white headed woodpecker. Elk, deer, bear,
mountain lion (cougar) and coyotes also call the area home.
Beautiful stands of 400-year-old "yellow belly" Ponderosa pines are the trademark of this 3500-acre wildland. Terrain varies from flat wildflower meadows to cliffs and colorful rock outcrops of welded tuff. The forests, meadows, streams, and cliffs combine for excellent cross-country hiking and wildlife observation. Steins Pillar, a two hundred-foot high rock , monolith is reached by a loop trail, which winds through the ancient forest.
In the past, this beautiful area has been targeted for logging. with the roleback of the 2001 Roadless Area Conservation Rule, Mill Creek roadless area could once again be threatened.