Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Recreation - Siskiyou Wilderness

Siskiyou Wilderness

"In nature there are neither rewards or punishments; there are only consequences."
- Robert B. Ingersoll (1833 - 1899)

Introduction

The United States Congress designated the Siskiyou Wilderness in 1984 and it now has a total of 152,680 acres. All of the wilderness is in California and is managed by the Forest Service.

Description

The Siskiyou Wilderness is located in the highest portion of the Siskiyou Mountains in Northern California and is shared by three National Forests: the Klamath, the Six Rivers and the Rogue River-Siskiyou. The area is characterized by high craggy peaks, small glacial cirque lakes and soft mountain meadows. Patches of snow often linger year round on the steep northern faces of the highest peaks.

Forested ridges and craggy peaks with lower slopes densely covered with brush generally describes Siskiyou Wilderness. You'll also discover fragile mountain meadows, open glades, shallow lakes, and the Wild and Scenic South Fork of the Smith River, which forms a large portion of the western boundary. Clear Creek and the headwaters of the East Fork of the Illinois River flow perennially through the Wilderness. Summer populations of steelhead attract anglers. The area is noted for its great diversity of plant life, and includes one of the world's largest concentrations of lily species and perhaps as many as 20 species of conifers. Here grows the rare Brewers spruce (the "weeping" spruce). Forage is limited, and stock users are advised to carry feed. Summers are usually very warm, but cold can strike any night of the year and severe storms are common year-round.

The Clear Creek National Recreation Trail crosses 20.5 miles of the northern portion and provides access to some of the more scenic parts of the Wilderness. Human use is light and concentrated on the trails that lead to lakes. Much of the area lacks trails and is difficult to access cross country because of the dense brush. Many authorities on the subject suspect Bigfoot could be hiding out in the untrammeled regions.

The Siskiyou Wilderness is part of the 107 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. This System of lands provides clean air, water, and habitat critical for rare and endangered plants and animals. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing, and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. You play an important role in helping to "secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness" as called for by the Congress of the United States through the Wilderness Act of 1964. Please follow the requirements outlined below and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting the Siskiyou Wilderness to ensure protection of this unique area.

General Wilderness Prohibitions

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters, unless provided for in specific legislation.

In a few areas some exceptions allowing the use of motorized equipment or mechanical transport are described in the special regulations in effect for a specific area. Contact the Forest Service office or visit the websites listed on the 'Links' tab for more specific information.

These general prohibitions have been implemented for all national forest wildernesses in order to implement the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Wilderness Act requires management of human-caused impacts and protection of the area's wilderness character to insure that it is "unimpaired for the future use and enjoyment as wilderness." Use of the equipment listed as prohibited in wilderness is inconsistent with the provision in the Wilderness Act which mandates opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation and that wilderness is a place that is in contrast with areas where people and their works are dominant.

Siskiyou Wilderness-Specific Regulations

Wilderness managers often need to take action to limit the impacts caused by visitor activities in order to protect the natural conditions of wilderness as required by the Wilderness Act of 1964. Managers typically implement 'indirect' types of actions such as information and education measures before selecting more restrictive measures. When regulations are necessary, they are implemented with the specific intent of balancing the need to preserve the character of the wilderness while providing for the use and enjoyment of wilderness.

The following wilderness regulations are in effect for this area. Not all regulations are in effect for every wilderness.

MAXIMUM GROUP SIZE: 25 MEMBERS
Using a trail, campsite, or other area in any National Forest Wilderness in the Pacific Southwest Region by a group of more than 25 persons without a valid Visitor's permit authorizing such use is prohibited.

MAXIMUM LENGTH OF STAY: 14 DAYS
Camping at any one spot, site, or location is limited to fourteen days per calendar year.

Siskiyou Wilderness Recreation Opportunities

Hiking

Although rugged and majestic there are hiking trails winding through most of the passes and valleys.

Geology

High mountain peaks, such as Mt. Preston, El Capitan, the Lieutenants, Polar Bear, Bear Cub, Sanger Peak and Black Butte, are intersting geologic features.

Wildlife

High mountain meadows, such as Youngs Valley, Twin Valley, Poker Flats, rattlesnake meadow and Cracker meadow, once used to pasture cattle are now permanent home to native wildlife species.

Contact Information:
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Klamath National Forest Information on Siskiyou Wilderness