| Covered in a tangled rain forest of coniferous evergreens thick with an ankle-grabbing understory, Grassy Knob Wilderness lies rugged and steep. Access is limited and off-trail hiking rates as an extremely rough experience. Elevations vary from almost sea level to more than 2,000 feet on summits that include Grassy Knob, at 2,342 feet, on the western boundary and borders the Elk River on its southern boundary. This Wilderness nurtures the fragrant Port Orford cedar, drooping with its characteristic twisting limbs in rare stands of old growth with some trunks exceeding six feet in diameter. The primary drainage of misnamed Dry Creek provides habitat for a remarkable population of spawning salmon. Many small, turbulent, and virtually pure streams tumble for short distances over emerald waterfalls and through ravines cool with shade during typically sunny summers. The red of vine maple brightens moss-laden glens come autumn, while winter brings an average of 130 inches of chilly rain born in the nearby Pacific. Weather changes may be remarkable and rapid. |
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