The Russian Wilderness protects the Russian Mountains,[2] a portion of the high crest of the Salmon Mountains, which are composed of metamorphic and granitic rock. There are over twenty named lakes at different elevation levels as well as the major watersheds of the Scott River and North Fork Salmon River.
The Russian is one of three wilderness areas that form an almost continuous chain, from the Trinity Alps Wilderness to the south, and the Marble Mountain Wilderness in the north, these areas provide an important corridor for wildlife such as the migrating herds of black-tailed deer. The Russian Wilderness is part of the largest nearly roadless complex in northwestern California.[3]
Elevations range from 2,500 feet (760m)[3] to the high point of the wilderness, Russian Peak, at 8,196 feet (2,498m) [41°17′N122°57′W].[4]
Rare perennials include the Siskiyou fireweed (Epilobium siskiyouense), and several types of lousewort (Pedicularis). The rare annual Siskiyou phacelia ( Phacelia leonis), was observed by John O. Sawyer and J. Smith in 1988.[8] Siskiyou phacelia has bell-shaped blue-purple flowers, blooms in summer, and grows in serpentine soils.
The Pacific Crest Trail travels 18.5 miles (29.8km) along the Salmon Mountain crest. The Bigfoot Trail passes through the wilderness for 5 miles (8.0km) where it crosses the Salmon Mountain crest, from Syphon Lake to Russian Creek. Because of the small size of the wilderness, visitors can reach the highlights in less than two hours of hiking or horseback riding.[3]
Ski and snowshoe trips are possible with four cirque (glacial lake) basins providing good telemark skiing.[3] Major drainages are the North Fork Salmon and Scott rivers and have populations of rainbow trout and steelhead.
Roadless areas
There are three separate units totaling 16,800 acres (68km2) adjacent to the wilderness.[3] These roadless areas have stands of old growth forests of oak and madrone growing in a terrain of glacially modified landscape, with U-shaped valleys and granite crags.
This article uses material from the Wikipedia article Russian_Wilderness, and is written by contributors.
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