Old-growth forests in western Oregon's BLM lands offer many public values - including scenery, recreation, wildlife habitat, and clean water. Often found in just postage-stamp sized remnants, these forests offer some of the only habitat in a sea of privately-owned and heavily clearcut forestland (see map). What's left is precious, and worth seeking out.

Coast Range foothills: Alsea Valley old-growth

In the foothills of the central Oregon Coast Range lie small remnants of exquisite old-growth forests. During the development of the WOPR, intrepid Corvallis-area forest lovers explored the area around the town of Alsea, finding beautiful places to take the public. Potentially slated for logging under WOPR, now the Salem BLM is developing a proposal to build trails in some of these areas to showcase them instead.

Cascade foothills: Eugene BLM old-growth

Heading east out of Eugene, before reaching the well-known section of the upper  McKenzie River with its popular trails, BLM forests filter creeks emptying into the river and offer hundreds of acres of mature native forests that provide shelter for many types of wildlife on the edge of the developed Willamette Valley.

Forest primeval: Crabtree Valley

Tucked away east of Albany amidst a disorienting tangle of old logging roads lies a valley with some of the most stunning old-growth left in western Oregon. Crabtree Valley - only a few hundred acres in size, is surrounded by unique rock formations which have protected its forests from most disturbance for more than 500 years. The trees (some of largest you're likely to find anywhere in the state), lake and meadows here shelter spotted owls, Pacific giant salamanders, and numerous other woodland wildlife.

Learn more about Crabtree Valley here.

Wild Rogue Wildlands

The unroaded forests that cover the slopes above the Wild & Scenic Rogue River in southwest Oregon provide the scenic backdrop for world-class recreation like rafting and hiking. Yet the Medford District BLM has proposed timber sales in this area in recent years. The forests here are some of the most diverse in the region, with unique plants and animals found nowhere else.

Learn more about efforts to protect the Wild Rogue.