When it comes to rivers, there's no place like home.
Written by Michael Dotson in June 2025
June is National Rivers Month, and as the temperatures heat up in the Rogue Valley, it’s a great time to explore some of our region’s most iconic waterways. Many people may not realize this, but our little corner of the U.S. boasts more Wild & Scenic Rivers than anywhere else in the lower 48 states. I’m sure we all have a favorite river or creek to visit, and in our latest column, we offer insights and highlight the unique waterways that carve their way through the Klamath-Siskiyou region of southwest Oregon and northwest California.
The Klamath River - the rebirth of the river
The newly-undammed Klamath River flows through what used to be the Irongate Reservoir. Credit: Haleigh Martin
No river has seen as much attention in the media of late than the beloved Klamath River. The waterway originates from headwater streams east of the Cascades in Oregon’s high desert landscape and cuts its way through the southern Cascades in far northern California before making its way to the Pacific Ocean. Once an abundant salmon run, man-made dams and water diversions for farming have decimated the native fish populations over the last half-century. A massive fish die-off in 2002 led many Tribal communities to amplify calls to remove four dams on the river near the Oregon-California border. That milestone was finally accomplished in 2024 when Irongate, the last of those four dams, was breached. Wild salmon, steelhead, and even lamprey now have access to hundreds of miles of spawning grounds that were once off-limits! Restoration of the Klamath is ongoing, and local rafting outfitters are finding new stretches of the river to run with guests this summer.
Did you know: One of Oregon’s newest Wild and Scenic waterways – Jenny Creek – originates in the Cascade-Siskiyou National Monument and flows south to its confluence with the Klamath River. Jenny Creek is one of five new spawning tributaries that has been opened back up after the removal of the Klamath River dams.
The Wild & Scenic Rogue River - One of the original protected waterways
The Wild & Scenic Rogue River, one of the original eight Wild & Scenic Rivers designated in 1968. Credit: Haleigh Martin
When the Wild & Scenic Rivers Act passed in 1968, southern Oregon’s Rogue River was one of the original 8 waterways selected as Wild & Scenic. Today, the Rogue is at the heart of southern Oregon’s outdoor recreation economy, bringing in more than $50 million to local communities. The Rogue is popular for fishing, and whitewater boaters from around the continent come to enjoy multi-day adventures in the lower Rogue Canyon. The Rogue has a long history, which includes being the backdrop for the Rogue River Wars between local Tribes and the U.S. Army in the 1850s. In the 1920s, famed Western writer Zane Grey built a cabin along the Rogue where he would visit from time to time to fish the famed waters of the Rogue.
Did you know: Senator Wyden’s Oregon Recreation Enhancement Act would expand the Wild Rogue Wilderness and create the 100,000-acre Rogue Canyon National Recreation Area.
The Wild & Scenic Illinois River and its Rough & Ready tributary
Rough and Ready Creek, a tributary to the Illinois River. Credit: Nate Wilson
While the Rogue may get a lot of the attention for its status as one of the country’s original Wild & Scenic Rivers, its largest tributary – the Illinois River – is no pushover. Its whitewater is more challenging than the Rogue, and its rugged canyon is just as scenic. The Illinois River watershed contains unique serpentine geology, which influences its emerald green waters. A visit to Forks State Park in Cave Junction is a great place to visit in the fall, when the salmon are returning to spawning grounds up the East and West Forks of the Illinois River.
Did you know: Rough & Ready Creek is one of the Illinois’ headwater tributaries and also happens to be one of Oregon’s most botanically diverse watersheds in the entire state. You can learn more about the rare plants at the Rough & Ready Creek wayside on Highway 199 between Cave Junction and O’brien. KS Wild is also currently working with partners from across the state to designate the Wild & Scenic Illinois River and Rough & Ready Creek as Outstanding Resource Waters of the state.
The Smith River National Recreation Area - A northern Californian gem
The iconic emerald pools of the Smith River in northern California. Credit: Holly Christiansen
In far northwestern California, the famed Smith River remains as the largest undammed watershed in all of the state. The California portion of the Smith River watershed lies within the Congressionally-designated Smith River National Recreation Area, which limits commercial activities like logging on public lands. Some of the heaviest concentrations of redwood forests are located within the Smith River watershed, which is also where you’ll find Jedediah Smith State Park.
Did you know: The North Fork of the Smith River originates in Oregon’s far southwestern corner. This portion of the Smith River watershed in Curry County, Oregon does not have the same Congressional protections as the California side, and toxic mining threatens the natural beauty of Oregon’s North Fork Smith River. KS Wild and partners have been working for decades to protect the waterway from mining and speculation, and in 2016, helped secure a 20-year moratorium on new mining claims and activities in the watershed. The Southwestern Oregon Watershed and Salmon Protection Act would bring permanent protections to 55,000 acres in Oregon’s North Fork Smith River watershed, along with Rough & Ready Creek and Hunter Creek.
