| The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is 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. It 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, Oregon.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 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 Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest is home to wild and scenic rivers (over 200 miles), isolated wildernesses (324,000 acres), fisheries and wildlife resources, and beautiful landscapes of mountains, meadows, streams, and lakes.Recreational opportunities abound on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National 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-Siskiyou National Forest has established over 60 campgrounds located throughout the Forest. These campgrounds range from primitive to fully developed and some campgrounds are even open to horses. If visitors prefer more solitude or want to explore the backcountry, most of the Forest is open for dispersed or backcountry camping.Some of the largest salmon in the lower 48 states swim up the rivers of the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest every year. Winter steelhead runs on the Chetco, spring and fall runs of Chinook salmon on the Rogue and Illinois rivers bring thousands of anglers to the Forest each year to cast their lines in the water.Mountain biking is a very popular sport for visitors to the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. Hundreds of miles of unimproved Forest Service roads offer unlimited biking adventures through forests and open landscapes on steep or gentle terrain. The Forest contains over 500 miles of trails. Many of these trails are open to hikers, horseback riders, motorcycles and mountain bikes. |
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