North Kalmiopsis Roadless Area

Oregon’s third largest Roadless Area

The North Kalmiopsis Roadless Area is watershed to the National Wild and Scenic Illinois and Chetco River and home to two U.S. Forest Service Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers—Silver and Indigo creeks. It’s steep, rugged country best known for it’s large creeks that provide prime habitat for native steelhead and cutthroat trout.

At 88,582 acres, the North Kalmiopsis is the third largest Inventoried Roadless Area in Oregon, following closely after the 105,000 acre South Kalmiopsis Roadless Area. Both lie adjacent to the Kalmiopsis Wilderness creating one large wildland of exceptional value providing clear, clean water to downstream communities and native salmon and steelhead to local economies.

Silver Creek is one of two Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers in the North Kalmiopsis Roadless Area. The direct tributary of the Wild Section of the National Wild and Scenic Illinois River provides many miles of pristine salmon and steelhead habitat for the world renowned lower Wild and Scenic Rogue River. Photo Barbara Ullian
Silver Creek is one of two Eligible Wild and Scenic Rivers in the North Kalmiopsis Roadless Area. The direct tributary of the Wild Section of the National Wild and Scenic Illinois River provides many miles of pristine salmon and steelhead habitat for the world renowned lower Wild and Scenic Rogue River. Photo Barbara Ullian.
Quick Facts

Location: Southwest Oregon (Josephine and Curry Counties)

Management: Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Size: 88,582 acres (Appendix C)

Land Allocations: 

  • Late-Successional Reserve, 
  • Non Motorized Backcountry, 
  • Supplemental Resource Area
  • Matrix
Kalmiopsis Country