Grassy Knob Wilderness
Encyclopedia
Grassy Knob Wilderness is a wilderness area in the Klamath Mountains
of southwestern Oregon
, within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
. It was designated wilderness by the United States Congress
in 1984 and now comprises a total of 17200 acres (6,961 ha). Like most wilderness areas in Oregon, Grassy Knob is managed by the Forest Service
.
, and marks the northern boundary of the Wilderness, while the Elk River
marks the southern border. The Elk has Wild and Scenic
designation.
Grassy Knob Wilderness is home to the Port Orford cedar
, including some stands of old growth with some trunks exceeding six feet in diameter. Old growth Douglas fir exists in the Wilderness as well.
streams. Some claim that the Elk River is the most productive salmon stream of its size outside of Alaska. Wild native cutthroat trout
can also be found here.
Klamath Mountains
The Klamath Mountains, which include the Siskiyou, Marble, Scott, Trinity, Trinity Alps, Salmon, and northern Yolla-Bolly Mountains, are a rugged lightly populated mountain range in northwest California and southwest Oregon in the United States...
of southwestern Oregon
Oregon
Oregon is a state in the Pacific Northwest region of the United States. It is located on the Pacific coast, with Washington to the north, California to the south, Nevada on the southeast and Idaho to the east. The Columbia and Snake rivers delineate much of Oregon's northern and eastern...
, within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
The Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest is a United States National Forest located on both sides of the border between the states of Oregon and California. The formerly separate Rogue River and Siskiyou National Forests were administratively combined in 2004...
. It was designated wilderness by the United States Congress
United States Congress
The United States Congress is the bicameral legislature of the federal government of the United States, consisting of the Senate and the House of Representatives. The Congress meets in the United States Capitol in Washington, D.C....
in 1984 and now comprises a total of 17200 acres (6,961 ha). Like most wilderness areas in Oregon, Grassy Knob is managed by the Forest Service
United States Forest Service
The United States Forest Service is an agency of the United States Department of Agriculture that administers the nation's 155 national forests and 20 national grasslands, which encompass...
.
Topography
Elevations in Grassy Knob Wilderness range from near sea level to 2342 feet (713.8 m) at the summit of Grassy Knob. Many small streams tumble for short distances over waterfalls and through ravines in the Wilderness. The primary drainage is Dry Creek, a tributary of the Sixes RiverSixes River
The Sixes River is a river, approximately 30 mi long, in southwestern Oregon in the United States. It drains a rugged region of the Coastal Range along the Pacific coast south of Coos Bay....
, and marks the northern boundary of the Wilderness, while the Elk River
Elk River (Oregon)
The Elk River is in southwestern Oregon in the United States. Approximately 25 miles long, the river drains a remote area of the Coastal Range into the Pacific Ocean....
marks the southern border. The Elk has Wild and Scenic
National Wild and Scenic River
National Wild and Scenic River is a designation for certain protected areas in the United States.The National Wild and Scenic Rivers Act was an outgrowth of the recommendations of a Presidential commission, the Outdoor Recreation Resources Review Commission...
designation.
Vegetation
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana
Chamaecyparis lawsoniana is a cypress in the genus Chamaecyparis, family Cupressaceae, known by the name Lawson's Cypress in the horticultural trade, or Port Orford-cedar in its native range . C...
, including some stands of old growth with some trunks exceeding six feet in diameter. Old growth Douglas fir exists in the Wilderness as well.
Fish
Both the Elk and Sixes Rivers are major steelhead and salmonSalmon
Salmon is the common name for several species of fish in the family Salmonidae. Several other fish in the same family are called trout; the difference is often said to be that salmon migrate and trout are resident, but this distinction does not strictly hold true...
streams. Some claim that the Elk River is the most productive salmon stream of its size outside of Alaska. Wild native cutthroat trout
Cutthroat trout
The cutthroat trout is a species of freshwater fish in the salmon family of order Salmoniformes. It is one of the many fish species colloquially known as trout...
can also be found here.
Recreation
Popular recreational activities in the Grassy Knob Wilderness include fishing, wildlife watching and hiking, though there are very few established trails. The Wilderness also offers extraordinary opportunities for solitude.See also
- List of Oregon Wildernesses
- List of U.S. Wilderness Areas
- Wilderness ActWilderness ActThe Wilderness Act of 1964 was written by Howard Zahniser of The Wilderness Society. It created the legal definition of wilderness in the United States, and protected some 9 million acres of federal land. The result of a long effort to protect federal wilderness, the Wilderness Act was signed...
- List of old growth forests
External links
- Grassy Knob Wilderness - Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest
- Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest - Wild and Scenic Elk River