Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Located in southwestern Oregon, along the California/Oregon state line, the Forest ranges from the crest of the Cascades Mountains west into the Siskiyou Mountains, nearly to the Pacific Ocean. The Forest covers almost 1.8 million acres; portions of the Applegate and Illinois River drainage's extend into northern California. The Rogue River drains over 75 percent of the Forest's land area.

The previously separate Rogue River and Siskiyou National Forests and their nine ranger district offices were administratively combined in 2004. The Supervisor's Office is in Medford, OR.

Your Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest embraces a treasure of botanical diversity, and is home to incredible wild and scenic rivers (over 200 miles), isolated wildernesses (324,000 acres), outstanding fisheries and wildlife resources, and breath-taking landscapes of mountains, meadows, streams, and lakes.

Recreational opportunities abound on the Forest, from white water rafting to wilderness camping, from lake and stream fishing to winter snowmobiling. Hundreds of miles of trails welcome users of all types and abilities - wheelchairs, horses, bicycles, motorcycles, snow-mobiles, cross-country and downhill skiers, and hikers. Camping facilities, boat ramps, picnic areas, and cabin and fire look-out rentals are available seasonally, some under rental or use fees.

The Rogue River area of this National Forest covers 630, 000 acres, on four ranger districts. About 53,800 acres are located in California. Field offices are located in the communities of Ashland, Butte Falls, Prospect, and south of the community of Ruch. The Forest also includes a plant nursery in Central Point. The Rogue River area includes portions of three Wildernesses (Red Buttes, Rogue-Umpqua Divide, and Sky Lakes), and one Wild and Scenic River (Upper Rogue).

The Rogue River National Forest (until 1932 called the Crater National Forest) was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1908. The name Rogue River commemorates the Takelma Indians, whose defense of their homeland led early day French-Canadian trappers to call them les Coquins, "the Rogues."

The forest itself is composed of two separate areas of land: the Cascade Mountain and Siskiyou Mountain zones.

The Siskiyou area of this National Forest covers 1,094, 000 acres, on five ranger districts. About 38,000 acres are located in California. Field offices are located in the communities of Brookings, Cave Junction, Gold Beach, Grants Pass, and Powers. The Siskiyou area encompasses the entire Grassy Knob and Kalmiopsis Wildernesses, and shares the management of three more: Red Buttes. Siskiyou, and Wild Rogue. The Siskiyou area is also home to five Wild and Scenic Rivers: Chetco, Elk, Illinois, North Fork Smith, and Rogue.

The Siskiyou area is located in the Klamath Mountains and the Coast Range of Southwestern Oregon, with a small segment of the Forest extending into Northwestern California. Our portion of the Klamaths is termed the Siskiyou Mountain Range. The Siskiyou Forest Reserve was established by President Theodore Roosevelt in 1905, and the Reserve was designated as the Siskiyou National Forest in 1907. The name Siskiyou is a Cree Indian word for bob-tailed horse (bestowed in 1828by French Canadians working for the Hudson Bay Company).

The Siskiyou area embodies the most complex soils, geology, landscape, and plant communities in the Pacific Northwest. World-class wild rivers, biological diversity, remarkable fisheries resources, and complex watersheds define the Siskiyou. The Siskiyou is the most floristically diverse National Forest in the country with some extraordinary botanical resources.