The Wild Rogue Wilderness is a prime example of the natural, scenic beauty that Southern Oregon is famous for. It was established as a wilderness area in 1978 to provide watershed protection for the federally designated “wild” portion of the Wild and Scenic Rogue River. This area, although accessible by car by way of a network of BLM roads, lives up to its “wild” name. Nearly vertical cliffs and razorsharp ridges provide a breathtaking backdrop for the pristine mountain creeks that ripple toward the rivers.
The region was originally settled by hunters and gold prospectors, who were drawn to the land by the prospect it held for wealth. Little gold was ever found in the area, but as you wander through you are likely to run across 150-year-old remnants of the search. Stamp mills, flumes and trestles still speckle this otherwise undeveloped tract of land. If you are a fisherman, you will be delighted by the tremendous steelhead and salmon fishing. As you'd expect, the Wild Rogue Wilderness is a camper's paradise. If you have a taste for pulse-pounding excitement, test the challenging whitewater the Rogue River has to offer. Hikers love the National Recreation Trail that runs parallel to the Rogue right through the wilderness area for about 40 mi. from Graves Creek to Illahe, including a 15-mi. stretch of hiker-only access to the Rogue River. Illahe, located on the Rogue River in the Klamath Mountains, is about 8 mi. north of Agness via the Agness-Illahe Rd. MORE INFO: FS.USDA.gov/rogue-siskiyou, Gold Beach Ranger District, 541-247-3600