Medford Overview

Overview

The Bureau of Land Management's Medford District oversees approximately 866,000 acres of scattered public lands between the Cascade and Siskiyou mountain ranges and from the Oregon/California border to Canyon Creek and southern Douglas County. This large land base is divided into three Resource Areas: Ashland, Butte Falls, and Grants Pass.

Attractions & Recreation Opportunities

Numerous recreation opportunities await the outdoor enthusiast in the Medford District. Floating the Rogue Wild and Scenic River, birding, caving, fishing, hiking, hunting, sightseeing, and wildlife watching are among the most popular activities.

Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument

Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument is the first national monument set aside for its unique biodiversity. Located at the crossroads of the Cascade, Klamath, and Siskiyou mountain ranges, the convergence of these three geologically distinct mountain ranges has resulted in an area with remarkable biological diversity and a varied yet ruggedly beautiful landscape.

Nestled in the backyard of Medford-Ashland, Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument contains approximately 55,000 acres, which includes the congressionally designated 24,000 acre Soda Mountain Wilderness. Offering visitors multiple points of access, 19 miles of the legendary 2,663 mile Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail traverses through the monument, offering stunning views and opportunities for exploration. Set among towering fir trees, the Hyatt Lake Campground offers monument visitors a pleasant place to rest after a day of exploration.

Rogue River

The Rogue River is located in southwestern Oregon and flows 215 miles from Crater Lake to the Pacific Ocean. The 84 mile, Congressionally designated "National Wild and Scenic" portion of the Rogue begins 7 miles west of Grants Pass and ends 11 miles east of Gold Beach.

The visitor center is on the river near the town of Galice and is approximately 20 miles from I-5 on the Merlin-Galice Road. The center is called the Smullin Visitor Center and is located at the Rand National Historic Site.

Table Rocks

Two of the most prominent topographic features in the Rogue Valley are Upper and Lower Table Rocks. These mesa buttes rise immediately above the north bank of the Rogue River in southwestern Oregon, between Sams Valley and Central Point.

The Table Rocks are visited by more then 10,000 visitors annually. Spring offers the best time for viewing the many different wild flowers and migratory birds.

Detailed Map

To better visualize the extent of our District and the public lands we manage, look at this detailed map that shows major public lands, major roads and the boundary of both our District and Resource Areas.