National Parks and Protected Areas Near Redwood National and State Parks in Northern California

Six Rivers National Forest: Exploring Protected River Valleys and Mountain Terrain in California

A regional protected area spanning California river systems

Six Rivers National Forest defines much of the rugged landscape in northwestern California. Named for the six major river drainages within its borders, the area features a unique combination of coastal forests, deep river canyons, and high-country ridges that offer significant insight into the region's broader geographic and ecological character.

Area

3,875.2 km²

Established

1947

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Mediterranean

Smith River National Recreation Area: Mapping the Klamath Mountain Protected Landscape

Watershed geography and rugged mountain terrain in northwestern California

Located in the heart of the Klamath Mountains, Smith River National Recreation Area represents a critical protected watershed in northern California. The area is defined by its deep, forested canyons and the clean, wild waters of the Smith River, which serve as a primary link between coastal redwood ecosystems and mountainous inland terrain. Users can study the park boundaries and regional landscape characteristics that sustain this remote environment.

Area

1,235 km²

Established

1990

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Mediterranean

Rogue River, Siskiyou National Forest: Mapped Geography and Protected Area Overview

Tracing volcanic peaks and river-carved mountain terrain in Oregon

Spanning nearly 7,300 square kilometers, the Rogue River, Siskiyou National Forest acts as a crucial ecological anchor in the Pacific Northwest. This overview details its unique mountain geography, the extensive wilderness tracts within its boundaries, and the river systems that define its mountainous character.

Area

6,973.46 km²

Established

2004

Visitors

915K annual

Relief

Mountain

Kalmiopsis Wilderness: Mapping the Protected Landscapes and Geology of Southwestern Oregon

Botanical richness and dramatic canyon terrain in the Klamath Mountains

Kalmiopsis Wilderness preserves a dramatic landscape of steep ridges and river-cut valleys across 180,000 acres in southwestern Oregon. Known for its distinct serpentine soils and high botanical diversity, the wilderness area offers a look at complex mountain ecology and significant Wild and Scenic River headwaters within the Rogue River-Siskiyou National Forest.

Area

727.44 km²

Established

1964

IUCN

Ib

Relief

Mountain

Shasta, Trinity National Forest: Mapping the Protected Landscapes of Northern California

Volcanic peaks, expansive reservoirs, and rugged mountain wilderness

Spanning over two million acres, Shasta, Trinity National Forest represents a major protected landscape in Northern California. The geography includes the iconic Mount Shasta volcano and the complex shoreline of Shasta Lake, while hosting expansive wilderness areas and diverse terrain ranging from oak-forested foothills to alpine meadows.

Area

8,942.87 km²

Established

1954

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Temperate

Marble Mountain Wilderness: Exploring Protected Mountain Landscapes in Northern California

Klamath Mountains Wilderness and Alpine Geography

Spanning hundreds of thousands of acres, Marble Mountain Wilderness offers a dense concentration of subalpine fir, deep glacial lakes, and steep drainage basins. This northern California protected landscape provides an atlas of rugged ridges and marble-toned peaks that represent one of the most ecologically diverse backcountry areas in the region.

Area

978.3 km²

Established

1964

IUCN

Ib

Relief

Mountain

Klamath National Forest; Protected Landscape Geography and Mapped Wilderness Boundaries

Diverse mountain terrain in Northern California

Klamath National Forest represents a significant protected area in Northern California, encompassing a vast, rugged landscape that bridges the Klamath Mountains and the Cascade Range. Its terrain is characterized by deeply incised river valleys, exposed rocky summits, and an intricate mosaic of coniferous forests. This geographic detail provides essential context on the forest's role as a major site for wilderness protection and ecological study in the Pacific Northwest.

Area

7,033 km²

Established

1905

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Temperate

Red Buttes Wilderness: Mapping the Protected Mountain Geography of the Siskiyou Range

A rugged wilderness reserve straddling California and Oregon

Red Buttes Wilderness preserves a complex mountainous terrain shaped by ancient metamorphic rocks and glacial history. The area features high ridgelines, alpine lakes, and specialized botanical habitats, providing a vital window into the ecological and geological diversity of the broader Klamath and Siskiyou mountain landscapes.

Area

80.7 km²

Established

1984

IUCN

Ib

Relief

Mountain

King Range Wilderness Nature Reserve: Exploring California Coastal Mountains and Terrain

Mapped protected landscapes along the Humboldt County North Coast

King Range Wilderness protects a unique vertical ecosystem spanning from the Pacific Ocean tide line to high inland elevations. This nature reserve, located in Humboldt County, serves as a significant geographic landmark for its steep topography, including Douglas-fir forests, estuarine habitats, and undisturbed coastal reaches that represent a substantial portion of California's undeveloped shoreline.

Area

172 km²

Established

2006

IUCN

Ib

Relief

Mountain

Whiskeytown, Shasta, Trinity National Recreation Area: Geographic and Protected Landscape Overview

Mapped terrain across northern California reservoir units

Investigate the environmental character of Whiskeytown, Shasta, Trinity National Recreation Area, spanning from the expansive waters of Shasta Lake to the forested ridges of the Whiskeytown unit. This atlas entry details the interplay between large-scale reservoir management, riparian habitats, and the transition from Mediterranean chaparral to high-elevation conifer forests in California.

Area

99,588 km²

Established

1965

IUCN

V

Visitors

1.5M annual

Mendocino National Forest: Mapping California's Remote Protected Mountain Landscape

Examining wilderness boundaries and rugged coastal terrain

Mendocino National Forest serves as a significant protected area in California, known for being the only national forest in the state without major paved access. Its terrain spans 913,000 acres of mountain peaks, deep river canyons, and old-growth conifer forests. Home to the unique tule elk population at Lake Pillsbury, this landscape provides a rare example of wilderness isolation, complex geothermal features, and rugged, largely untouched northern coastal topography.

Area

3,696.02 km²

Established

1907

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Mediterranean

Mount Shasta Wilderness: A Geographic Profile of California Volcanic and Alpine Landscapes

Mapping protected volcanic peaks and glacial ecosystems

Deeply explore the protected geography of Mount Shasta Wilderness, a 38,200-acre reserve in Northern California. This record details the park's stratovolcano foundations, glacial terrain, and forested corridors, offering a clear view of the complex landforms and boundary systems that define this significant high-elevation protected area.

Area

155 km²

Established

1984

IUCN

Ib

Relief

Mountain

Butte Valley National Grassland: Geographic Overview and Protected Landscape Mapping

High-desert sagebrush steppe in Northern California

Butte Valley National Grassland is a singular protected landscape in northern California, known for its expansive sagebrush steppe and dry lakebed terrain. Centered in the Klamath River basin, the grassland provides an essential high-desert habitat framed by the dramatic volcanic presence of the Cascade Range and Mount Shasta. This atlas entry details the geography, soil composition, and mountain-framed boundaries of this unique protected area.

Area

74.56 km²

Established

1991

Relief

Upland

Climate

Temperate

Mountain Lakes Wilderness: Geographic Atlas of Oregon's Glacial Volcanic Reserve

Mapping the volcanic cirques and square boundaries of the southern Cascades.

Mountain Lakes Wilderness serves as a primary geographic anchor in the southern Cascades, where shield volcanoes meet glacially carved basins. This protected area contains over twenty lakes situated in high-altitude cirques near the summits of volcanic peaks like Aspen Butte. The area is defined by its distinctive square survey-township boundary, providing a clear footprint of wilderness conservation within the larger Fremont-Winema National Forest terrain.

Area

93 km²

Established

1964

IUCN

Ib

Relief

Mountain

Lassen National Forest: Mapped Geography and Protected Landscapes of Northern California

Volcanic terrain and expansive old growth ecosystems

Lassen National Forest represents a vast protected landscape in Northern California, defined by its severe volcanic geology and resilient conifer forests. This atlas entry provides essential geographic context regarding the forest boundaries, the volcanic rim of Mount Tehama, and the intricate river systems shaping the region. Explore the terrain, from accessible lava tubes to the wilderness areas preserved within this significant mountain corridor.

Area

4,331.53 km²

Established

1905

Relief

Mountain

Climate

Temperate

Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness: Protected Ridge Landscape and Watershed Geography

High-country wilderness area in southwestern Oregon

Rogue-Umpqua Divide Wilderness preserves a dense, high-elevation ridge environment that separates the Rogue and Umpqua river drainages. Featuring a complex mix of volcanic and sedimentary rock outcrops within a continuous conifer canopy, the area offers a unique look at forest ecology in the Klamath Mountains. The geography provides extensive views across both watersheds and stands as a primary example of protected montane forest terrain within the Oregon landscape.

Area

134 km²

Established

1984

IUCN

Ib

Water

Minor water

Siuslaw National Forest: Oregon Coast Range and Protected Landscape Geography

Coastal dunes, temperate rainforests, and river networks

Explore the mapped boundaries and natural geography of Siuslaw National Forest. This protected landscape highlights the ecological transition from Pacific shorelines to the high-elevation forests of the Oregon Coast Range, encompassing sand dune systems, salmon-supporting streams, and significant wilderness refuges.

Area

2,566.54 km²

Established

1908

Visitors

1M annual

Climate

Temperate

Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area: Mapped Geography and Coastal Landscape Atlas

Protected temperate sand dunes along the Pacific coast

Examine the expansive dune fields and aquatic habitats within the Oregon Dunes National Recreation Area. This atlas provides a detailed look at the geographic distribution of wetlands, coastal forests, and massive sand formations that shape this unique protected landscape in Oregon.

Area

127.74 km²

Established

1972

Visitors

1.5M annual

Relief

Lowland

Crater Lake National Park: Oregon National Park Atlas of Volcanic Landscapes

Explore mapped boundaries and unique caldera geography.

Crater Lake National Park represents a significant protected area within Oregon, defined by the dramatic volcanic caldera it contains. This national park is celebrated for its exceptionally deep, clear blue lake, formed by the collapse of Mount Mazama, offering a unique subject for geographic and landscape study. Users can explore its mapped boundaries and understand its position within the broader atlas of protected lands and mountainous terrain of the Cascade Range.

Area

741.48 km²

Established

1902

IUCN

II

Visitors

527K annual

Modoc National Forest: Protected Landscape and Warner Mountains Geography

High desert volcanic terrain in northeastern California

Modoc National Forest encompasses a massive expanse of volcanic plateaus and rugged mountain ridges in the northeastern corner of California. This protected area offers significant geographic variety, transitioning from arid sagebrush basins to lush, high-elevation conifer forests. It serves as a vital natural landscape, home to the South Warner Wilderness and large stands of old-growth timber, reflecting the unique geologic history of the regional lava flows.

Area

6,695.09 km²

Established

1904

Relief

Mountain

Access

Moderate access