Rogue River and Siskiyou National Forests

The Kangaroo Roadless Area in the Siskiyou, Rogue and Klamath National Forests is about 30 miles south of Grants Pass and 30 miles west of Ashland. The Area sits at the crest of the Siskiyou Mountains and is contiguous with the Red Buttes Wilderness Area to the north and south. The Kangaroo has significant (more than 20,000 acre) portions in both California and Oregon.

The Kangaroo is a very large (50,000+ acre) roadless area. It is extremely valuable for habitat connectivity because it helps connect several designated Wilderness areas. To the south,Siskiyou Wilderness Area; to the west, Kalmiopsis Wilderness Area; and to the east, the Cascades. 

The Kangaroo is also home to a wide variety of fish and wildlife, including plant life. All 32 coniferous tree species found throughout the Siskiyou Mountains can be found in the Kangaroo Roadless Area alibe. The Kangaroo roadless areas remains a wealthy source of biological diversity and species endemism.

Beautiful waterfalls and amazing vistas abound in the Kangaroo. High mountain meadows with craggy boulders and unending flowers break up the lush and mossy old growth forests. The Kangaroo also offers many high mountain lakes for summer enjoyment.

Two large "cherry stem" road systems shrink the Kangaroo to only a few miles wide in the north portion. In the past, several proposed timber sales have been located near this road systems and reached in to the Kangaroo roadless area. Until the Kangaroo is afforded more protection, it will continue to be threatened from these logging projects.

Several cattle grazing allotments also exist in the Kangaroo. Cows are noticeable in the creeks and springs in the summer months. Grazing threatens the biological diversity of the area, as it is known to lead to the compaction of soils and have detrimental effects on riparian and spring dependant species. Off Road Vehicle (ORV) use in the Kangaroo has caused some damage to high meadow habitats. Many rare and sensitive plant and wildlife species are displaced by the presence of cows and ORV's in the Kangaroo.

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