What is the Siskiyou Crest?

Little known, but incredibly wild and beautiful, the Siskiyou Crest is the only mountain range running primarily east to west in the Pacific Northwest, connecting the volcanic Cascade Mountains to the Coast Range. This vital habitat connectivity corridor extends from the sagebrush clearings and quaking aspen groves near Mt. Ashland to the fog drenched redwoods of the Smith River. The Siskiyou Crest is the axis for biodiversity on the West Coast and home to some of the most diverse conifer forests in the world.

The high country of the Siskiyou Crest is also the headwaters of many clear flowing rivers and streams, including the Applegate and Illinois Rivers, both major tributaries of southwestern Oregon’s famous Rogue River, the mighty Klamath River, which marks the rugged southern boundary of the Siskiyou Crest region, and the lush forests of the Smith River that drain the Siskiyou Crest’s western flank. These rivers support important fisheries, sustain deep, diverse forests, spectacular woodlands, recreational opportunities and rural communities that could benefit from increased habitat protection.