Sky Lakes Wilderness: Rogue River-Siskiyou NF

United States Congress designated the Sky Lakes Wilderness in 1984 and it now maintains 113,849 acres. It includes three major lake (former glacial) basins as it stretches along the crest of the volcanic Cascade Mountains from the border of Crater Lake National Park on the north to State Highway 140 in the south: Seven Lakes, Sky Lakes, and Blue Canyon basins. All of southern Oregon seems to lie at your feet from the rugged summit of volcano Mount McLoughlin (9,495’), and then extends out northward into Sky Lakes' broad plateau-like ridges, dotted with many lakes.

You'll find creeks and ice-cold springs grassy meadows, and scores of clear sub-alpine lakes. Several of the lakes were found, by 1980s-90s Environmental Protection Agency baseline study of acid-rain conditions in Western U.S. mountain lakes, to have among the most chemically pure water known of all lakes on the globe. Most of the area's lakes, some of them stocked with game fish, are set against a backdrop of tall trees that reach to the edge of the lakeshore.

An overall high-elevation forest consisting largely of Shasta red fir, western white pine, and mountain hemlock yields to lodgepole pine around many of the lakes, as well to moisture-loving Engelmann spruce here and there. Hardy, long-lived whitebark pines are found near the summits of Mt. McLoughlin and Devil's Peak. The forest's understory is dominated by species of huckleberry, as well as manzanita, snowbrush, and heather.

Elk herds spend much of the summer and early fall in the northern third of the region. The entire area supports roving populations of pine martens and fishers, black bears, cougars, coyotes, as well as pikas and golden-mantled ground squirrels and other species of wildlife. During October and November, migrating birds pass over in the hundreds of thousands, often stopping at the high lakes. Ospreys regularly visit Sky Lakes to try their luck at fishing. Swarms of mosquitoes hatch from snowmelt until mid-August.

Traveling via horseback into the Sky Lakes Wilderness? This brochure helps equestrians who will be exploring the Sky Lakes Wilderness to understand their role in protecting the special values of this amazing place on the RRSNF.

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General Information

Topo maps

Crystal Spring, Devils Peak, Imnaha Creek, Lake of the Woods North, Maklaks Crater, Mares Egg Spring, Mount McLoughlin, Pelican Butte, Red Blanket Mountain, Rustler Peak, Union Peak. Download free U.S. Forest Service Topo maps.

Wilderness.net

Go to Wilderness.net for online maps and other important Wilderness information.

Nation-Wide Wilderness Regulations:

Motorized equipment and equipment used for mechanical transport is prohibited. This includes the use of motor vehicles, motorboats, motorized equipment, bicycles, hang gliders, wagons, carts, portage wheels, and the landing of aircraft including helicopters.

Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest Sky Lakes Wilderness Regulations:

Caching of equipment is prohibited. Storing equipment, personal property, or supplies is prohibited.
Possessing or storing hay or unprocessed (viable) grain is prohibited. Oregon weed free forage information. California weed free forage information.
Campsite restriction when camping with stock: Equestrians must camp in designated sites within Seven Lakes Basin and the Blue Canyon Basin, as shown on public hand-out map.
Campsites and fires prohibited within 100 feet from lakes; 50 feet from streams or springs; preserves water quality, vegetation, and privacy of other groups.
Maximum group size: 8 persons and/or 12 stock.

Getting There

Directions

Trailheads and Trails that access Sky Lakes Wilderness at Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest

Alta Lake Trailhead – provides access to Alta Lake Trail #979.
Blue Canyon Trailhead – provides access to Blue Canyon Trail #976, Cathill Way Trail #992.
Middle Fork Trailhead – provides access to Middle Fork Trail #978.
Pacific Crest Trail - Highway 140 Trailhead – provides access to Pacific Crest National Scenic Trail #2000 - State Highway 140 to Crater Lake National Park.
Red Blanket Trailhead – provides access to Red Blanket Trail #1090.
Seven Lakes Trailhead – provides access to Seven Lakes Trail #981.
Upper South Fork Trailhead– provides access to Upper South Fork Trail #986.
Twin Ponds Trailhead – provides access to Twin Ponds Trail #993.
Tom and Jerry Trailhead – provides access to Tom and Jerry Trail #1084.

Other trails within Sky Lakes Wilderness at Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest