Menagerie Wilderness

Technical rock climbers travel substantial distances to test their skills on the series of weird rock pinnacles that dominates Menagerie Wilderness. Each is named after a different animal — Roosters Tail, Chicken Rock, Hen Rock, Turkey Monster, and North and South Rabbit Ears among them. The most popular is Rooster Rock, which can be ascended with 5.4 climbing skills, though the routes on these stony towers rate to at least 5.9. Two main routes, the Rooster Rock Trail at 2.1 miles and the Trout Creek Trail at 3.3 miles, lead eventually to Rooster Rock. To see the rest of the menagerie you will have to hike cross-country over rugged terrain. The area is used year-round by day-trippers. Elevations range from 1,600 feet to 3,900 feet, with a thick forest of Douglas fir, western hemlock, and western red cedar. Not far north lies Middle Santiam Wilderness. Designated in 1984 and managed by the U.S. Forest Service.