Salmon Wild and Scenic River

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Overview: Only an hour's drive from Portland, Oregon, the clear water of the Salmon River cascades over numerous waterfalls in the Salmon-Huckleberry Wilderness before reaching its lower forested canyons. From its headwaters to the confluence with the Sandy River approximately 33.5 miles (53.9 km) downstream, the river's proximity makes it easy for a great number of people to enjoy its diverse recreational opportunities. The Salmon River incorporates portions of two major physiographic zones—the Cascade Mountain Range and the Columbia Basin. As a result, the river corridor contains great natural diversity, from alpine environments and narrow basalt canyons to wide floodplains with their associated wetlands. Know Before You Go: One of the best ways to visit the Salmon Wild and Scenic river is to visit the Wildwood Recreation Site on the Mt. Hood Scenic Byway (US Highway 26) near the town of Welches, Oregon. Upriver from the BLM-managed segment, the nearby Mount Hood National Forest offers many recreational activities, including hiking, horseback riding, fishing, camping, backpacking, and skiing, among others. Don't Move Firewood: Please protect Pacific Northwest forests by preventing the spread of invasive species. Firewood can carry insects and diseases that can threaten the health of our western forests. You can make a difference by obtaining and burning your firewood near your location of burning. Point of Interest: Two important species found in the Salmon Wild and Scenic River corridor include Roosevelt elk and greater Sandhill cranes. The small population of greater Sandhill cranes is the northernmost breeding population of this species in Oregon.