Drive far enough south along the beach and you will leave the Oregon Coast Range (see illustration at bottom) and enter the Klamath Mountains. You may not notice a difference but that is because the geology is well hidden under dense foliage. (Photo: The Klamath Mountains extend right into the water of the Pacific Ocean.)

Location

The Klamath Mountains are in the southwest portion of Oregon and are bounded by Medford to the east and Brookings to the west. They continue south into California and are home to the coastal redwoods.

History

A series of metamorphic and igneous mountain chains formed as islands and then collided with North America 150 million years ago. In areas where the rocks are exposed, you will find interesting bends and folds as well as colors besides the black of basalt. This is because these islands were once under tremendous heat and pressure that was not enough to melt the rock but was enough to bend it and change its structure into a multitude of mineral types.

Climate

This area of the state is much like the Coast Range in that it receives large quantities of rain and snow. The one marked difference is the eastern portion of the mountains; they do not receive as much rainfall because the entire range is wide enough to cause a rain shadow effect as you approach Medford.

Ecosystem

The change in annual precipitation, depending on location, leads to flora that is more widely varied than the Klamath Mountains’ cousins to the north are. The western sections contain all the moisture-loving plants of the Coast Range such as Douglas fir, ferns, and mosses. The eastern portions contain Ponderosa, oak and sage in some areas.

Human Activity

As with the Coast Range, this region of Oregon has also been settled for thousands of years, first by Native Americans, then later by European explorers. There are dozens of small towns, with Brookings and Coos Bay being the largest. The principal industry in the Klamath Mountains is timber harvesting. Mining is also present here, with recreational gold prospecting a big activity. Rafting and fishing on the Rogue River are also favorite pastimes.

Things to See

The Klamath Mountains offer many activities to enjoy. Rafting, fishing, hiking, prospecting…this area has it all. The Rogue River – Siskiyou National Forest contains wilderness areas and a National and Scenic River (the Rogue) to explore if you are not interested in the coast. There are also a few towns, in particular, that are worth visiting:

- Gold Beach: This town has all the usual activities that can be found at a coastal community. Yes, as its name suggests, some gold can be found on the beach.

- Port Orford: This town is the oldest European settlement on the coast. It is an excellent location for whale watching during the twice-yearly migrations.

- Reedsport: This town is an excellent starting point for exploring and playing in the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area (see last month’s column).

If You Go: This area of Oregon sees a lot of rain during the winter. Be prepared to get wet. When exploring areas that are on Forest Service land, be sure to purchase a day pass at one of the ranger stations for $5.

  A black beach in Northern California. The black sand is caused by basaltic rock that has decomposed into grains of sand.

© 2009 S. Skiles