The Kalmiopsis and the Wild Rivers Coast
The Kalmiopsis Wildlands are rugged, geologically complex, and home to the National Wild & Scenic Illinois, Chetco and North Fork Smith Rivers—plus five U.S. Forest Service Candidate Wild and Scenic Rivers. These beautiful rivers are free flowing—from their headwaters to the Pacific Ocean and the spectacular Wild Rivers Coast. Their rare plant diversity is legendary.
With other free flowing streams, the rivers of the Kalmiopsis provide clean drinking water for downstream communities, wild salmon and steelhead for local economies and high quality recreation for visitors and locals. The clean water and native salmon of the Illinois River are essential to the famed Lower Wild and Scenic Rogue River
Millions of years ago this ancient land acted as a climate refuge. It can again, if we take care of it. But metal strip mining threaten the wild National Forest headwaters of its beautiful creeks and rivers and almost a half century conservation. Learn about Kalmiopsis Wildlands (pronounced Kal-me-opsis) and this remote corner of Oregon and California and how to help.protect it.