Old-Growth Hikes in the South Oregon Cascades
Note: Under construction while work is being completed for the North and Central Oregon Cascades.
Hikes featuring old forests are grouped by major watershed, and are based on recent updates to descriptions first published in 2003 (Old-Growth Forest Hikes: Washington and Oregon Cacades, John Cissel, TMB publisher). Each hike where old growth remains features a map, text description, and photos. Hikes where the old forest has been lost over the last 25 years are so indicated.
Hikers might benefit from procuring paper maps or using an app to download maps for additional map detail. Most hikes will not have reliable cell coverage.
Locator Map
Lowland - Lower elevations with mostly Douglas-fir and western hemlock, though western redcedar is common.
Transition - Middle elevations where noble fir, Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock mix with low-evelation species.
Snow zone - Higher elevations with noble fir, Pacific silver fir and mountain hemlock; Douglas-fir and western hemlock are largely absent.
Dry mixed conifer - Dryer sites where ponderosa pine, incense cedar, Douglas-fir, grand fir and sugar pine are common, thought to have developed with more frequent fires.
Old growth - Areas where all the characteristics (large trees, snags, and down wood and a complex tree canopy) of old growth are present.
Partial old growth - Areas that contain some old-growth characteristics, either mature stands that may soon grow into old growth, or younger stands usually resulting from fire that retain some older trees.