Rivers of the Klamath Mountains. Share this: Facebook Twitter Pinterest Email. Like this: Like Loading Leave a Reply Cancel reply. Etymology The word Klamath is derived from tlamatl , the Chinook name for the Klamath tribe, which is around Klamath Lake in Oregon, the source of the river. Covering 1. Contact the ranger station to find out more on renting watercraft or tour companies that offer organized trips.
Box 68 Willow Creek, CA Box Orleans, CA Highway 3 Ft. Jones, CA Box Weaverville, CA In wilderness area is , acres, and has features a mile system of trails. Bubba Suess - Jun 25, pm - Hasn't voted Time to update this page.
Table of Contents. Children Children Children refers to the set of objects that logically fall under a given object. Trinity Divide. Trinity Alps. Castle Crags Wilderness. Castle Crags. Siskiyou Mountains. Whiskeytown National Recreational Area. View all on Map. Mount Eddy.
Thompson Peak. Caesar Peak. Sawtooth Peak. Wedding Cake. Caribou Mountain. China Mountain. Gibson Peak. Boulder Peak. Russian Peak. Siligo Peak. Seven Up Peak. Middle Peak. Granite Peak. Black Mountain.
Red Mountain. North Yolla Bolly. Looking at the Geologic Map of California, it appears that the Klamaths were once part of the Sierra Nevada but were wrenched away from the main range, cut off by major volcanic flows from the Cascades or both. Either way, the regions closely resemble each other and hikers who are familiar with both often comment on the striking similarities. A third region, the Blue Mountains of eastern Oregon also seem to be composed in a similar fashion, leading some to speculate that these mountains were also part of same cordillera.
The other distinct element of the Klamath Mountains, particularly in the California section of the mountains, is the rivers that course through the range. Amazingly, the watersheds of these rivers align almost perfectly with the geologic borders. Several large mountain rivers are found here. Chief among them is the Klamath River, from which the range gets its name. Beyond the valley, the river enters the Klamath Mountains province.
While already a large river, it is here that it begins to gather the waters of the numerous rivers that arise in the mountains of the Klamaths. Major creeks, including Clear, Wooley, Gridder, Canyon and Hayfork Creeks all have significant watersheds of their own. The watersheds of these rivers all correspond to the geologic extent of the range.
Equally amazing, with the notable exception of the dam that forms Trinity Lake, all of these rivers are undammed and wild as they flow through the Klamaths three dams are found on the Klamath River as it passes through the Cascades but none lie downstream. The Trinity Alps boast vast alpine expanses.
In keeping with the forgotten nature of the Klamath Mountains, it is also one of the wildest regions of California. There roughly 1,, acres of wilderness in the California section of the Klamaths, making it the second largest alpine wilderness block in the state. Only the Sierra Nevada has more montane wilderness. Boasting and amazing , acres, it is one of the largest wilderness areas in California and the second largest administered by the U.
Forest Service after the magnificent John Muir Wilderness, which encompasses , spectacular acres. The large block of wildlands is complemented by low regional population and significant distance from population centers. There are 7 wilderness areas entirely within the Klamath Mountains. As mentioned previously, the northern portion of the Yolla Bolly-Middle Eel Wilderness falls within the Klamath province, bringing the total up to 8.
Most of the acreage is focused on the 3 largest areas, the Trinity Alps, the Marble Mountain and the Siskiyou Wilderness areas. Four more, smaller areas are scattered around the range. While there are notable exceptions Mount Eddy, Scott Mountains , most of the best scenery and recreational opportunities fall within the boundaries of these wild areas.
In some cases, these wilderness areas correspond to the major subranges within the Klamath Mountains but for the most part they are only taking in isolated portions of larger geologic blocks. The scale of the areas ranges from over half a million acres in the Trinity Alps to the tiny Chanchelulla Wilderness, which has less than 10, acres. The largest block of wilderness in the Siskiyou Mountains, the , acres of the Siskiyou Wilderness contain a beautiful collection of alpine lakes and rugged peaks.
Located at the southern end of the long crescent of the Siskiyous that runs from Interstate 5 in the northeast to the confluence of the Klamath and Trinity Rivers in the southwest, the Siskyou Wilderness is easily the most rugged stretch of mountains in the entire range. The wilderness is dominated by spectacular Preston Peak, which looms 1, feet or more above any mountain within a 20 mile radius. The principle watershed within the Siskiyou Wilderness is Clear Creek.
Fed by several alpine lakes and meadows, this large waterway rises at the north end of the wilderness and flows 25 miles to the southeast, where it meets the Klamath River. Numerous trails provide access to the interior of the wilderness.
The most popular trails generally lead to lakes, the most notable of which is the awesome Devils Punchbowl. Figurehead Mountain in the Red Buttes Wilderness. One of the smaller wilderness areas in the Klamath Mountains, the Red Buttes Wilderness encompasses 20, acres, of which 16, are within California, the rest falling just north of the Oregon border.
The name comes from twin towers of the Red Buttes, the highest and most interesting peaks in the wilderness. Like much of the wilderness, the buttes lie along the crest of the Siskiyous. The north side of the mountains drain into the Rogue River via the Applegate River. On the south the water makes its way into the Klamath River.
In addition to the statewide issues, loss of habitat connectivity and mineral extraction are of concern in this ecoregion. Many unique plant and soil features are found in this ecoregion, including granitic sediments in many streambeds.
These features are highly sensitive to local disturbances. Rapidly expanding communities in the Klamath Mountains ecoregion include Medford and Roseburg, for example. Rapid urbanization can strain the ability of sensitive habitat, such as valleys, wetlands, and aquatic habitats, to continue to provide valued ecological functions and services. Rapid development increases the potential for conflict between people and wildlife.
For example, increasing road traffic increases the potential for collisions with migrating species, creating a hazard to both motorists and wildlife. Cooperative approaches with private landowners are the key to long-term conservation.
Essential tools include financial incentives, conservation easements, and informational resources. Work with community leaders and agency partners to ensure planned, efficient growth. Support and implement existing land use regulations to preserve farm and range land, open spaces, recreation areas, and natural habitats for wildlife.
Ensure that local wildlife services are sufficiently maintained to help residents manage wildlife damage issues. Historically, the ecoregion was dominated by fire-adapted vegetation and experienced widely variable fire regimes, ranging from areas with relatively short fire return intervals to areas with greater than year return intervals.
Fire suppression has damaged forest health, resulting in undesirable changes in vegetation and increased intensity of wildfires as a result of increased fuel loads. Efforts to reduce fire danger can help to restore fish and wildlife habitat, but they require careful planning.
Use an integrated approach to fuels management and forest health issues that considers historical conditions, wildlife conservation, natural fire intervals , and silvicultural techniques. Encourage forest management at a broad scale to address limiting factors. Reintroduce fire where feasible. Prioritize sites and applications. Maintain important wildlife habitat features, such as snags and logs, to sustain wood-dependent species. In areas where prescribed fire is undesirable or difficult to implement, use mechanical treatment methods e.
Support fish habitat restoration by reducing stream sedimentation. Monitor these efforts and use adaptive management techniques to ensure efforts are meeting habitat restoration and wildfire prevention objectives with minimal impacts on wildlife. Identify sub-basins with unique granitic sediment features that are especially at risk. The Klamath Mountains ecoregion is naturally diverse and heterogeneous.
Some habitat types have been particularly disrupted by fragmentation and loss of connectivity , including late-successional forests and valley bottom habitats. Opportunities for large-scale protection or restoration of native landscapes are limited.
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