Located at the crossroads of the Cascade, Klamath, and Siskiyou mountain ranges, scientists have long recognized the outstanding ecological values of the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument (CSNM). The convergence of three geologically distinct mountain ranges resulted in an area with remarkable biological diversity and a tremendously varied landscape. Many archaeological and historical sites are also found throughout the CSNM, providing clues to Native American use of the area and tracing portions of the historic Oregon/California Trail. One of the easiest ways to experience this unique landscape include hiking the Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail which meanders some 19 miles through the monument or reserving a campsite at the monument's Hyatt Lake Recreation Area.

The monument consists of approximately 62,000 acres of BLM-administered land in rugged Southwestern Oregon. Privately owned land is often adjacent to public land in the CSNM. Please respect the rights of private property owners and stay on public land when visiting the monument.

The monument contains the Soda Mountain Wilderness, an ecological mosaic where Oregon's eastern desert meets towering fir forests. The Soda Mountain Wilderness encompasses the rich biological and geological diversity in the mountains southeast of Ashland, Oregon. The heart of the wilderness is the 5,720-foot high Boccard Point where the great basin meets the three mountain ranges. The older Klamath Range comes up from the south while the much younger Siskiyou Range extends from the west. Jutting up from the north is the very young Cascade Range.