Umpqua National Forest

United States national forest in Oregon

Umpqua National Forest

A trail through dense vegetation in the forest

Location| Douglas / Lane / Jackson counties, Oregon, United States
Nearest city| Roseburg, Oregon
Coordinates| 43°13′21″N 122°15′15″W﻿ / ﻿43.22250°N 122.25417°W﻿ / 43.22250; -122.25417
Area| 983,129 acres (3,978.58 km2)[1]
Established| July 2, 1907[2]
Visitors| 799,000[3] (in 2006)
Governing body| United States Forest Service
Website| Umpqua National Forest
Umpqua National Forest vicinity map.

Umpqua National Forest, in southern Oregon's Cascade Range, covers an area of 983,129 acres (3,978.58 km2) in Douglas, Lane, and Jackson counties, and borders Crater Lake National Park. The four ranger districts for the forest are the Cottage Grove, Diamond Lake, North Umpqua, and Tiller ranger districts. The forest is managed by the United States Forest Service, headquartered in Roseburg.

## Geography

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Stands of western hemlock, true fir, Douglas-fir and cedar transition to lower-elevation forests of mixed conifers and hardwoods. Timbered valleys of old-growth ponderosa and groves of oak separate mountains like the 9,182-foot (2,799 m) Mount Thielsen and the 8,363-foot (2,549 m) Mount Bailey. Notable geologic features include volcanic basalt and andesite monolithic spires with descriptive names like Eagle Rock, Rattlesnake Rock, and Old Man.

## History

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Ancestors of the Umpqua, Southern Molala, Yoncalla, and Cow Creek Band of Umpqua Tribe of Indians lived here before Mount Mazama erupted forming Crater Lake nearly 7,000 years ago. The Indians were moved to reservations in 1856. As Europeans bought reservation lands, the tribes further fragmented to become farmers and ranchers in the Umpqua Valley. Two translations of the word "umpqua" are "thundering waters" and "across the waters".[4]

The Umpqua National Forest was created by the United States Congress on July 2, 1907. The Forest Service staff soon began building trails, constructing bridges, fighting fires, monitoring grazing, and erecting lookouts. Logging and mining began in 1925. The Civilian Conservation Corps was active in the Umpqua National Forest by building roads, bridges and recreation facilities in the 1930s.

## Points of interest

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The Umpqua National Forest is home to more than 250 wildlife species. Large mammals such as elk, deer, black bear, and cougar, as well as the smaller residents, squirrels, fox, raccoons, and bats are supported by the diverse forest habitats. Raptors such as owls, eagles, osprey, and even peregrine falcons can occasionally be seen in the forest. Coho and Chinook salmon and steelhead, rainbow, brown and cutthroat trout swim, feed and spawn in the rivers and streams of the forest.[5]

A 1993 Forest Service study estimated that the extent of old growth in the forest was 535,300 acres (216,600 ha),[6] 82,200 acres (33,300 ha) of which were mountain hemlock (Tsuga mertensiana) forests.

Recreational activities in the forest include camping, fishing, hiking, horseback riding, hunting, mountain biking, rock climbing, and boating. Winter activities include both Nordic and downhill skiing, as well as snowshoeing and snowmobiling.

In 1988, the Oregon Omnibus Wild and Scenic Rivers Act designated a portion of the North Umpqua River as Wild and Scenic. Twenty-six miles of the river run through the forest.

The Rogue-Umpqua National Scenic Byway extends 172 miles (277 km) through the Rogue River–Siskiyou and Umpqua national forests, as well as the Medford and Roseburg districts of the Bureau of Land Management and private lands.

## Wilderness areas

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Map of wilderness areas in the Umpqua National Forest.

The Umpqua National Forest contains three wilderness areas: Boulder Creek, Rogue-Umpqua Divide, and Mount Thielsen.

### Boulder Creek

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Boulder Creek is a 19,100-acre (77 km2) wilderness area located 50 miles (80 km) east of Roseburg. One popular area in Boulder Creek is Pine Bench. A flat area overlooking Boulder Creek, Pine Bench is home to a grove of majestic old growth ponderosa pines. In 1996 the Spring Fire burned 16,500 acres (67 km2) in the Boulder Creek Wilderness.[7]

### Rogue-Umpqua Divide

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The Rogue-Umpqua Divide is a 33,000-acre (130 km2) wilderness area, 26,350 acres (106.6 km2) of which is inside the National Forest. (About 17% of it lies within Rogue River–Siskiyou National Forest.) Located 80 miles (130 km) east of Roseburg, the Rogue-Umpqua Divide ranges in elevation from 3,200 to 6,878 feet (2,096 m) and separates the drainages of the Rogue and Umpqua rivers. The wilderness includes sub-alpine meadows and old-growth forests.[8]

### Mount Thielsen

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Mount Thielsen is a 55,100-acre (223 km2) wilderness area, 21,593 acres (87.38 km2) of which is located inside the National Forest. (The rest lies in either Winema National Forest or Deschutes National Forest.) Located 80 miles (130 km) east of Roseburg, this wilderness area is the largest in the Umpqua. The 9,182-foot (2,799 m) Mt. Thielsen was born of the same volcanic activity that created Crater Lake and some trails pass over deep pumice that was deposited when Mt. Mazama erupted. The Pacific Crest Trail passes through the middle of the wilderness area.[9]

## See also

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* High Cascades Complex Fires

## References

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1. ^ "Land Areas of the National Forest System" (PDF). U.S. Forest Service. January 2012. Retrieved June 30, 2012.
2. ^ "The National Forests of the United States" (PDF). ForestHistory.org. Archived from the original (PDF) on October 28, 2012. Retrieved July 30, 2012.
3. ^ Revised Visitation Estimates \- U.S. Forest Service
4. ^ Umpqua National Forest from the US Forest Service
5. ^ About the Umpqua National Forest from the US Forest Service.
6. ^ Bolsinger, Charles L.; Waddell, Karen L. (1993), Area of old-growth forests in California, Oregon, and Washington (PDF), United States Forest Service, Pacific Northwest Research Station, Resource Bulletin PNW-RB-197
7. ^ Boulder Creek Wilderness from the US Forest Service
8. ^ Rogue-Umpqua Wilderness from the US Forest Service
9. ^ Mount Thielsen Wilderness from the US Forest Service

## External links

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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Umpqua National Forest.

* Forest Service page on Umpqua National Forest
* Landscape Photos Showing Umpqua National Forest
* Umpqua National Forest Wilderness Areas

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Protected areas of Oregon

Heritage registers
National Register of Historic Places
National Historic Landmarks
National Natural Landmarks
World Network of Biosphere Reserves

Federal|

| NPS|

| National Parks|

* Crater Lake

|

National Historic
Parks and Sites|

* Fort Vancouver NHS
* Lewis and Clark NHP
* Nez Perce NHP

National monuments|

* John Day Fossil Beds
* Newberry National Volcanic Monument (USFS)
* Oregon Caves

USFS|

| National Forests|

* Deschutes
* Fremont–Winema
* Malheur
* Mount Hood
* Ochoco
* Rogue River–Siskiyou
* Siuslaw
* Umatilla
* Umpqua
* Wallowa–Whitman
* Willamette

|

National Grasslands|

* Crooked River

National recreation areas|

* Hells Canyon
* Mount Hood
* Oregon Dunes

Scenic areas|

* Cape Perpetua
* Columbia River Gorge

| National Wildlife
Refuge System|

* Ankeny
* Bandon Marsh
* Baskett Slough
* Bear Valley
* Cape Meares
* Cold Springs
* Deer Flat
* Hart Mountain
* Julia Butler Hansen Refuge for the Columbian White-Tailed Deer
* Klamath Marsh
* Lewis and Clark
* Lower Klamath
* Malheur
* McKay Creek
* Nestucca Bay
* Oregon Islands
* Siletz Bay
* Three Arch Rocks
* Tualatin River
* Umatilla
* Upper Klamath
* Wapato Lake
* William L. Finley

|

Wilderness areas|

* Badger Creek
* Black Canyon
* Boulder Creek
* Bridge Creek
* Bull of the Woods
* Clackamas
* Copper Salmon
* Cummins Creek
* Devil's Staircase
* Diamond Peak
* Drift Creek
* Eagle Cap
* Gearhart Mountain
* Grassy Knob
* Hells Canyon
* Kalmiopsis
* Lower White River
* Mark O. Hatfield
* Menagerie
* Middle Santiam
* Mill Creek
* Monument Rock
* Mount Hood
* Mount Jefferson
* Mount Thielsen
* Mount Washington
* Mountain Lakes
* North Fork John Day
* North Fork Umatilla
* Opal Creek
* Oregon Badlands
* Red Buttes
* Roaring River
* Rock Creek
* Rogue–Umpqua Divide
* Salmon–Huckleberry
* Sky Lakes
* Soda Mountain
* Spring Basin
* Steens Mountain
* Strawberry Mountain
* Table Rock
* Three Sisters
* Waldo Lake
* Wenaha–Tucannon
* Wild Rogue

National Conservation Lands|

* Cascade–Siskiyou National Monument
* Steens Mountain Cooperative Management and Protection Area
* Yaquina Head Outstanding Natural Area

National Wild and Scenic Rivers|

* List of Oregon's National Wild and Scenic Rivers

Other protected areas|

* Cascade Head Preserve
* Christmas Valley Sand Dunes
* Fossil Lake Area of Critical Environmental Concern
* Lost Forest Research Natural Area
* Sandy River Delta
* South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve
* Upper and Lower Table Rock
* Wildwood Recreation Site

State|

| Parks|

| North
Coast|

* Arcadia Beach
* Bob Straub
* Bradley
* Cape Kiwanda
* Cape Lookout
* Cape Meares
* Clay Myers at Whalen Island
* Del Rey Beach
* Ecola
* Elmer Feldenheimer
* Fishing Rock
* Fort Stevens
* Gearhart Ocean
* Haystack Hill
* Hug Point
* John Yeon
* Manhattan Beach
* Munson Creek Falls
* Neahkahnie–Manzanita
* Nehalem Bay
* Oceanside Beach
* Oswald West
* Rockaway Beach
* Sunset Beach
* Sunset Highway Forest
* Sitka Sedge
* Symons
* Tolovana Beach
* Twin Rocks
* Wilson River Highway Forest

|

Central
Coast|

* Agate Beach
* Alsea Bay
* Beachside
* Beaver Creek
* Beverly Beach
* Boiler Bay
* Carl G. Washburne
* Collins Creek
* D River
* Darlingtonia
* Devils Lake
* Devils Punch Bowl
* Driftwood Beach
* Ellmaker
* Fogarty Creek
* Gleneden Beach
* Governor Patterson
* H.B. Van Duzer
* Heceta Head Lighthouse
* Jessie M. Honeyman
* Joaquin Miller Forest
* L. Presley & Vera C. Gill
* Lost Creek
* Muriel O. Ponsler
* Neptune
* Neskowin Beach
* Ona Beach
* Otter Crest
* Pritchard
* Roads End
* Rocky Creek
* San Marine
* Seal Rock
* Smelt Sands
* South Beach
* Stonefield Beach
* Tokatee Klootchman
* W. B. Nelson
* Whale Watching
* Yachats
* Yachats Ocean Road
* Yaquina Bay

South
Coast|

* Albert H. Powers
* Alfred A. Loeb
* Arizona Beach
* Bandon
* Bolon Island Tideways
* Bullards Beach
* Cape Arago
* Cape Blanco
* Cape Sebastian
* Conde B. McCullough
* Coquille Myrtle Grove
* Crissey Field
* Elk Creek Tunnel Forest
* Face Rock
* Floras Lake
* Geisel Monument
* Golden and Silver Falls
* Harris Beach
* Hoffman
* Humbug Mountain
* Hutchinson
* Lone Ranch
* Maria C. Jackson
* McVay Rock
* Ophir
* Otter Point
* Paradise Point
* Pistol River
* Port Orford Cedar Forest
* Port Orford Heads
* Samuel H. Boardman
* Seven Devils
* Shore Acres
* Sisters Rock
* Sunset Bay
* Sweet Myrtle
* Umpqua
* Umpqua Lighthouse
* Umpqua Myrtle
* William M. Tugman
* Winchuck
* Yoakam Point

Portland
Metro|

* Banks–Vernonia
* Bonnie Lure
* Government Island
* L. L. "Stub" Stewart
* Mary S. Young
* Milo McIver
* Tryon Creek
* Willamette Stone

Columbia
River Gorge/
Mount Hood|

* Ainsworth
* Benson
* Bonneville
* Bridal Veil Falls
* Crown Point
* Dabney
* Dalton Point
* George W. Joseph
* Guy W. Talbot
* Historic Columbia River Highway
* John B. Yeon
* Koberg Beach
* Lang Forest
* Lewis and Clark
* Lindsey Creek
* Mayer
* McLoughlin
* Memaloose
* Multnomah Falls
* Portland Women's Forum
* Rocky Butte
* Rooster Rock
* Seneca Fouts
* Shepperd's Dell
* Sheridan
* Starvation Creek
* Viento
* Vinzenz Lausmann
* Wyeth
* Wygant

Willamette
Valley|

* Alderwood
* Bald Peak
* Blachly Mountain Forest
* Bowers Rock
* Cascadia
* Champoeg
* Detroit Lake
* Dexter
* Elijah Bristow
* Erratic Rock
* Fall Creek
* Fort Yamhill
* Holman
* Jasper
* Lowell
* Luckiamute
* Maples
* Maud Williamson
* Molalla River
* North Santiam
* Sarah Helmick
* Silver Falls
* State Capitol
* Thompson's Mills
* Washburne
* Willamette Mission
* Willamette Greenway

Southern
Oregon|

* Ben Hur Lampman
* Canyon Creek Forest
* Casey
* Collier Memorial
* Illinois River Forks
* Jackson F. Kimball
* Joseph H. Stewart
* Klamath Falls – Lakeview Forest
* OC&E Woods Line
* Prospect
* Rough and Ready Forest
* Stage Coach Forest
* TouVelle
* Tub Springs
* Valley of the Rogue
* Wolf Creek Inn

Central
Oregon|

*   * Cline Falls
* Cottonwood Canyon
* Deschutes River
* Dyer
* Elliott Corbett
* La Pine
* Ochoco
* Peter Skene Ogden
* Pilot Butte
* Prineville Reservoir
* Redmond–Bend Juniper
* Sisters
* Smith Rock
* The Cove Palisades
* Tumalo
* White River Falls

Eastern
Oregon|

* Bates
* Battle Mountain Forest
* Blue Mountain Forest
* Booth
* Catherine Creek
* Chandler
* Clyde Holliday
* Crooked Creek
* Deadman's Pass
* Emigrant Springs
* Farewell Bend
* Fort Rock
* Fort Rock Cave
* Frenchglen Hotel
* Goose Lake
* Hat Rock
* Hilgard Junction
* Kam Wah Chung
* Lake Owyhee
* Minam
* Ontario
* Pete French Round Barn
* Red Bridge
* Succor Creek
* Sumpter Valley Dredge
* Ukiah–Dale Forest
* Unity Forest
* Unity Lake
* Wallowa Lake
* Wallowa Lake Highway Forest
* Wallowa River

Forests|

* Clatsop
* Elliott
* Gilchrist
* Santiam
* Sun Pass
* Tillamook

Wildlife
areas|

* Bridge Creek
* Dean Creek
* Denman
* E. E. Wilson
* Elkhorn
* Fern Ridge
* Irrigon
* Jewell Meadows
* Klamath
* Ladd Marsh
* Lower Deschutes
* Phillip W. Schneider
* Prineville
* Riverside
* Sauvie Island
* Snake River Islands
* Summer Lake
* Wenaha
* White River
* Willow Creek

Local|

| Metro|

* Blue Lake
* Cooper Mountain
* Glendoveer
* Graham Oaks
* Howell
* Oregon Zoo
* Oxbow
* Smith and Bybee
* Mount Talbert

|

Tualatin Hills Park and
Recreation District|

* Tualatin Hills Nature Park

* Category
* Oregon Parks and Recreation Department
* Portland
* Commons

Authority control databases

International|

* VIAF
* WorldCat

National|

* United States
* 2
* Israel

Other|

* NARA

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