Red Buttes Wilderness, Federal wilderness area in Siskiyou Mountains, Oregon and California.
Red Buttes Wilderness is a protected area in the Siskiyou Mountains spanning nearly 20,000 acres across Oregon and California with elevations ranging from about 2,800 to 6,740 feet. The terrain includes dense forests, mountain passes, and several alpine lakes linked by various hiking trails.
Indigenous peoples, including the Dakubetede, traveled and hunted along the Siskiyou Crest for thousands of years before the area was formally protected. The wilderness designation came in 1984 to preserve the land's natural conditions for the future.
The designation as a wilderness area in 1984 established strict preservation guidelines to maintain natural conditions and limit human interference.
The main hiking routes are well-marked trails accessible from several starting points, with options ranging from easier walks to more challenging mountain routes. The Boundary National Recreation Trail serves as a key connector linking the wilderness to adjacent forest areas.
The peaks get their striking reddish-orange color from high concentrations of iron and magnesium in ancient sediments that once formed the ocean floor. This mineral composition creates a landscape that tells the geological story of how the area transformed from sea to mountain.
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