The Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest covers 1.8 million acres in southwest Oregon and northwestern California. It encompasses coastal mountains, Cascade Mountains, and the Rogue, South fork of the Coquille, Elk and Sixes Rivers near their origins to where they flow into the Pacific Ocean. The Forest is recognized for its world-class rivers, biological diversity, fisheries resources, geology, wilderness areas, watersheds, and year-round outdoor recreation.
The Forest has five districts with nine offices in the communities of Powers, Gold Beach, Brookings, Cave Junction, Grants Pass, Prospect, Butte Falls, Ashland, Ruch, and a nursery in Central Point. The Forest lies predominantely within Coos, Curry, Josephine, and Jackson counties in Oregon, with some land in Siskiyou County, California.
About the District
The Powers Ranger Station is approximately one mile north of town, and is one of five ranger districts on the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest. The Forest covers nearly 1.8 million acres, 139,128 of which are administered by the District. Elevation of the District varies from near sea level to 4,300 feet. The elevation at Powers is 300 feet.
The climate is typical of southwestern Oregon-mild, moist winters and warm dry summers with summer temperatures ranging from the seventies to the nineties. Rainfall averages 63 inches per year from October to June. Snow is normal on the district during the winter and usually occurs at 1,000 feet and higher elevations. The topography ranges from moderate slopes to steep, rugged slopes. Small drainages, ridges, bluffs and waterfalls are abundant.
The District supports excellent stands of old-growth and mature second growth Douglas-fir in association with western hemlock, Port-Orford-Cedar, western red cedar, true firs, and many species of hardwoods. Throughout the District, a variety of ground vegetation and brush species exist. These include pacific rhododendron, salal, sword and bracken fern, manzanita and huckleberry. The scenic diversity on this District is outstanding.
Some of the fish and wildlife species common on the district include: black bear, black tailed deer, elk, Northern Spotted Owls, bobcats, mountain lions, marbled murrelets, coho salmon, chinook salmon, steelhead trout and coastal cutthroat trout.
Southern Oregon’s Glendale to Powers Bicycle Recreation Area is a 74 mile paved bicycle route that begins in Glendale and leads the rider through some of the most breath-taking scenery in Southern Oregon.
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