Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Recreation -
Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness

Rogue Umqua Divide Wilderness

"In nature there are neither rewards or punishments; there are only consequences."
- Robert B. Ingersoll (1833 - 1899)

Introduction

The United States Congress designated the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness in 1984 and it now has a total of 33,200 acres. All of the wilderness is in Oregon and is managed by the Forest Service.

Description

The Rogue Umpqua Divide Wilderness is located in southwest Oregon, ten miles west of Crater Lake National Park. Elevations range from 3000 to 6800 feet along the divide between the Rogue and Umpqua Rivers. Geologic history has created many unique volcanic and sedimentary rock outcrops. Dense conifer forest gives way to a mosaic of big trees and sub-alpine meadows in the higher elevations. Meadow wildflowers are abundant in summer and diverse plant communities provide habitat for everything from hummingbirds to black bears. Water is abundant in streams and a handful of lakes. About 100 miles of trails access the area, providing loop opportunities and ridgetop vistas. Snow accumulations are transitory below 4000 feet and the entire area is usually snow free by mid-July.

The Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness is part of the 107 million acre National Wilderness Preservation System. This System of lands provides clean air, water, and habitat critical for rare and endangered plants and animals. In wilderness, you can enjoy challenging recreational activities like hiking, backpacking, climbing, kayaking, canoeing, rafting, horse packing, bird watching, stargazing, and extraordinary opportunities for solitude. You play an important role in helping to "secure for the American people of present and future generations the benefits of an enduring resource of wilderness" as called for by the Congress of the United States through the Wilderness Act of 1964. Please follow the requirements outlined below and use Leave No Trace techniques when visiting the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness to ensure protection of this unique area.

General Wilderness Prohibitions

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is generally prohibited on all federal lands designated as wilderness. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters, unless provided for in specific legislation.

In a few areas some exceptions allowing the use of motorized equipment or mechanical transport are described in the special regulations in effect for a specific area. Contact the Forest Service office for more specific information.

These general prohibitions have been implemented for all national forest wildernesses in order to implement the provisions of the Wilderness Act of 1964. The Wilderness Act requires management of human-caused impacts and protection of the area's wilderness character to insure that it is "unimpaired for the future use and enjoyment as wilderness." Use of the equipment listed as prohibited in wilderness is inconsistent with the provision in the Wilderness Act which mandates opportunities for solitude or primitive recreation and that wilderness is a place that is in contrast with areas where people and their works are dominant.

Rouge-Umpqua Divide Wilderness-Specific Regulations

Wilderness managers often need to take action to limit the impacts caused by visitor activities in order to protect the natural conditions of wilderness as required by the Wilderness Act of 1964. Managers typically implement 'indirect' types of actions such as information and education measures before selecting more restrictive measures. When regulations are necessary, they are implemented with the specific intent of balancing the need to preserve the character of the wilderness while providing for the use and enjoyment of wilderness.

The following wilderness regulations are in effect for this area. Not all regulations are in effect for every wilderness.

MAXIMUM LENGTH OF STAY: 14 DAYS
UMPQUA NF : Camping for more than 14 days in a 30 day period (Forest wide) is prohibited.

Contact Information:
Prospect Ranger District

Umpqua National Forest Information on the Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness