Wild places > Northwest CA: Regional Map

Marble Mountain Potential Wilderness Additions

Managing agency: Klamath National Forest.

Size: Approximately 152,292 acres.

Location: On the borders of the Marble
Mountain Wilderness in
Siskiyou County.

Description:

• The famous Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and the South Kelsey National Recreation Trail pass through the area.
• Features a profusion of rare and unusual plant and animal species.

From deep canyons to towering peaks, this wild land is one of the more beautiful and remote areas in California. In a region where the higher elevations are protected as wilderness, the proposed additions provide a critical habitat link between protected areas. Its vast ancient forests, meadows, and other habitats are a haven for a host of sensitive plant and animal species.

The proposed additions' vast ancient forests, meadows, and other habitats are home to the rare Brewer's, or "weeping," spruce, snow dwarf bramble, Hall's sedge, Mendocino gentian, Tracy's lupine, Wiggin's lily, Oregon fireweed, Cusick's speedwell, peregrine falcon, long-toed salamander, Salmon Mountain wake-robin, Siskiyou mountain salamander, wolverine, northern spotted owl, goshawk, bald eagle, Roosevelt elk, marten, and fisher.

The proposed additions shelter many nearly pristine streams, including Grider Creek, Ukonom Creek, the Left Hand Fork of the Salmon River, King Creek, the North Fork Salmon River and other streams that support steelhead trout, coho salmon, and chinook salmon. Even streams that do not themselves support populations of these endangered fish nevertheless help to support populations in the Klamath River by providing the cold, clear water they need to survive.

Evidence of Native American habitation and continuing use of the proposed additions is quite evident, as are signs of the gold rush that swept through the region in the nineteenth century. The famous Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail and the historic South Kelsey National Recreation Trail both traverse the proposed additions.

For additional information, please contact info@calwild.org